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Chapter 1 - The Beginning

~17 years before the Battle of Naboo – Somewhere in the Outer Rim – Sabé's mother

Darkness. That's all she could see.

Odd, she didn't remember meditating or falling asleep. Hovering on the edge of consciousness, she sensed a disturbance in the Force. What had she been doing before this? The darkness seems to lift a little and let some memories filter through.

She is a Jedi Knight. Hmm, that's interesting. The Jedi Council had sent her on a solo mission to Ulwaza to aid the pacifist inhabitants in negotiation with the invading Rhyfelzans. The Ulwazans were revered for their vast knowledge and advanced technology, but they were an incredibly secretive people and protective of their creations and had a strict policy of no communication with outsiders. Their home was on a small planet that they somehow managed to cloak and move across the galaxy with their technology. The Rhyfelzans had managed to find a chink in their superior technology and trap them in one place while they launched an invasion to seize their world. The desperate Ulwazans had turned to the Galactic Senate for help. The Senate, in turn, requested the Jedi's help. Thus, she was sent to divert a potential war. Simple enough. She would be in and out in a jiffy.

So why was she floating in the darkness? What was she missing? As she tried to remember more, she felt the darkness lighten.

"M… edi! … hear us?"

Voices. She could hear someone speaking.

"Master Jedi! Can you hear us?"

"Oh, Great Trafin! Is she going to be alright?"

That didn't sound good. What in the world had happened to her?

"Master Jedi! If you can hear me, blink or move a limb."

The Jedi Knight tried with all her might to open her eyes. Needless to say, they refused to obey, so she gathered herself and reached out to the Force. Peace and strength surrounded her and she felt herself rising to consciousness, like a bubble floating up in a body of water. Light and feeling came crashing back to her and she opened her eyes and gasped. The first thing she felt was this horrible pain. She couldn't pinpoint the exact location it was originating from, but it felt like a thousand lightsabers were slicing through her body. The pain threatened to overwhelm her.

Her fighting spirit rose up to combat the pain. She is a Jedi Knight and if she didn't succumb when she was shot with a Telbar poison dart, then she wasn't going to let a bit of pain take her down now. Summoning strength from the Force, she managed to separate herself from the pain. It was only then that she saw some indistinct shapes in front of her. She concentrated with all her might and their voices and images became clearer.

"Master Jedi! You're awake. Thank Trafin! I am Healer Igqirha, the lead healer at this facility," said a scaled, purple male as he draped a silver sheet across her body. "A Rhyfelzan laser pierced your side and you received third-degree burns when the command ship exploded. It's a miracle you survived. I'm afraid the wounds will kill you if we don't get you into one of our specialized bacta tanks immediately."

So why hadn't they done so yet? Her eyes must have conveyed that because the Ulwazan healer spoke again.

"There's a complication I thought you should be aware of. The injuries you sustained from the explosion put a great deal of stress on your system. I can only imagine that the healing energy you channel from the Force is the reason why neither you nor your baby is dead yet. Three standard months in a bacta tank should heal you enough to be able to fly back to Coruscant. However…"

His words faded as shock gripped the Jedi Knight. She's pregnant?! Never in a thousand years would she have expected to be informed that she was going to have a baby. Jedi Knights weren't allowed to fall in love and have a family. Attachments are forbidden as they get in the way of protecting the innocents in the galaxy. She had resigned herself to this as a child, growing up in the Jedi Temple 200 standard years ago. And yet… perhaps it was time to reevaluate her priorities. Her life had changed a lot since she was an initiate in the Temple, especially in recent years.

Her mind turned to Terrikan, her Jedi partner in more ways than one. She'd fought her feelings for him as long as she could, but it had been useless to resist. She felt guilty for breaking the Code by becoming attached to him, but when they were together in any setting, whether it be on a mission or in the bedroom, she couldn't bring herself to stop it. They'd even cemented their relationship a year ago by initiating an Infinity Bond, an unbreakable life-force link her species had the ability to forge. They had talked about leaving the Order, but they loved being Jedi too much to leave. But a baby would change everything. It was irrefutable evidence they had broken the Code.

She wondered how she hadn't noticed another life growing within her. Maybe the healer's scanner had malfunctioned. She reached out, trying to feel a foreign life-force inside of her. For a moment, then was nothing. And then feelings of incoherent confusion and discomfort not hers washed over her mind in a tidal wave. Her baby! Her focus snapped back to the Ulwazan healer as he gestured emphatically to a tank.

"Our bacta tanks put individuals into a frozen stasis and block their ability to channel the Force. Even for a Draaier such as yourself, you will not be able to use the Force. I would highly recommend the twelve month option; your baby will not survive if you go through a partial healing. But if you spend the extra time in the bacta tank, he or she may stand a chance. The choice is yours. Blink once for a partial healing, twice for a full healing."

She couldn't let her baby's innocent life be extinguished. She'd never considered having children before, but now that the choice was before her, she wanted a family. It was time to drop the façade; she wanted out. The Jedi Knight blinked twice.

Healer Igqirha nodded and directed his assistants to prep the specialized bacta tank.

"Prep Bacta Tank C!" He shouted. "Three parts liquid carbonite, one part nanites. Kirgua, fetch the HB-40 sedative."

She felt herself being lifted, divested of her tattered, still-smoking robes and fitted with a breathing mask. Then the freezing liquid of the bacta tank surrounded her and numbed the terrible pain.

She felt herself slipping into the darkness again. Wait! If the bacta tank blocked her connection to the Force, wouldn't that mean none of the Jedi would be able to feel her presence? They'd think she was dead. Oh no, Terry! She reached out through the Infinity Bond she shared with her love, trying to send a message halfway across the galaxy that she was okay. For a moment, her mind brushed against his, but then the numbing effects of the bacta tank overwhelmed her and she drifted into the darkness.

-oOoOoOo-

Darkness. That's all she could see.

Well, that and the faint light growing brighter with each moment. The light grew until it was all she could see and then it resolved into a murky image. She was inside a bacta tank. Memory came back to her.

There are figures moving in front of her. They must be the Ulwazan healers. One of them pressed a button on the tank's panel and she was lifted out; she shivered as the cold air hit her skin.

The baby! Is it ok? Did the treatment work? She reached out with the Force and sighed with relief as she felt the strong beating of the baby's heart and vibrant consciousness.

The Ulwazan healers quickly and efficiently removed her from the tank, dried her, and covered her with a thin medical blanket. One of them monitored her bio-signs by manually waving a scanner over her body, especially over the slight bump of her belly.

"Master Jedi, can you hear me?"

She looked up at Healer Igqirha and cleared her throat. "Indeed I can, Healer Igqirha. You have my sincerest thanks for saving me."

He smiled down at her. "It was our pleasure, Master Jedi. You saved our culture and our home from being obliterated from existence and nearly died in the process. This is the least we could do to repay you."

"It's my job," she replied with a tired smile. "How soon can I be released from your care? I must report to the Jedi Council."

"If the scans don't show any residual trauma, then you will be able to leave within the hour," Healer Igqirha replied as one of the assistant healers handed the results of the scans to him. He looked over the information and nodded in approval. "Both of your vitals are at optimal levels. Your nervous system has been successfully repaired and the baby is stabilized and healthy," he continued as he saw the Knight's questioning look at her belly, wondering why hadn't it grown more over the past year. "The bacta tank we put you in is a hybrid healing/stasis tank. You maybe aged two or three months over the past year."

That made sense. It would have been dangerous if they'd had to take her out of stasis to deliver the baby. The Knight sat up slowly, gingerly stretching her muscles while simultaneously keeping the blanket in place. She and the baby were safe and healthy, and she would soon be on her way back to Coruscant. She couldn't wait to see Terry and start a new life together. She knew he'd be ecstatic about it; he didn't like the prejudice he received from his fellow Jedi for his unorthodox features and the unconventional way he channeled the Force. He found it easier to let his emotions flow and use them to fuel his use of the Force. However, the Jedi Code emphasized controlling one's emotions, which placed a great deal of stress on Terry since his emotions naturally hovered near the surface.

She was startled as a square pile of clothing entered her vision and was gently set on her lap. Normally, it wasn't that easy to take her by surprise. Her senses were more dulled than she thought.

"Your starfighter is in Hangar 25. I will escort you there once you robe yourself." Healer Igqirha said, nodding to the civilian clothing. Her Jedi robes must have been burnt beyond repair.

An opaque wall sprang up, allowing her some privacy to clothe herself. The Ulwazans truly have some amazing technology, she marveled as she donned the simple pants, tunic, and overcoat. She reached out and touched the wall, expecting to feel solid material, but to her surprise, her fingers phased right through it. She walked through the silver barrier, where Healer Igqirha was waiting patiently for her.

"Your lightsaber, Master Jedi."

As she took the lightsaber handed over to her, she felt the Kyber crystal within it sing to her. Thank the stars it had survived the explosion with no ill effects.

"My thanks, Healer. Shall we?" She gestured to the door, indicating she was ready to leave.

"Yes. But I must insist you wear a blindfold," he held out a dense strip of cloth. "My people's secrets must remain our own."

"I understand."

The Ulwazan's dislike of interacting with outsiders was well-known. It was a testament to the direness of the invasion that they'd even reached out to the Jedi Council for help. She took the blindfold and tied it on.

Healer Igqirha took her arm and led her out of the room. Though she could not see anything, she was still able to sense people within the corridors and rooms they passed through.

"That's her!"

"She's just like our-"

Igqirha hushed them and the passersby complied with chastened silence.

The Knight was humbled by the unspoken gratitude and awe coming at her. These people had come to see the person who'd played a crucial part in liberating their planet from the Rhyfelzans' nefarious invasion. There was a mutual sense of relief that the invasion had been thwarted that the Knight wondered about. Healer Igqirha took hold of her attention as he gave tips about safely traversing space while pregnant, cautioning her to avoid the nebula they were currently in proximity to. His words started to echo and she assumed they were approaching Hangar 25.

The Knight jumped to the side to avoid colliding with a person who came unexpectedly around the corner. The young woman was feeling very strongly, the emotions of grief, loss, and gratitude striking the Knight in a tidal wave.

"Master Jedi, we can't thank you enough," she said somberly. "We lost many of our loved ones, but it would have been so much more if you had not come to our aid."

"We all live in the same galaxy. It's our duty to help each other," the Knight said, reaching out to take the woman's hand. "I only wish I could have prevented more needless deaths."

"I do too," said the woman as she tugged the Knight into a tight hug. "If only we'd called upon the Galactic Senate for help sooner. If only my parents-" she broke down into sobs.

"I'm so sorry," the Knight consoled the young woman, guessing her parents had been taken from her in the early battles.

"Miri, come here," a strong male voice said as he tugged the woman away from the Knight and into his own embrace.

The Knight listened empathetically as Miri sobbed wretchedly and sent soothing waves of understanding to the young woman.

"I can't change the past, but I can shape our people's future," Miri said resolutely as her tears ebbed. "I swear this won't happen again."

"I can't speak for the Galactic Senate, but you'll have the support of the Jedi Order to rebuild or act as a liaison between you and the Republic, should you wish it," the Knight offered.

"I will bring your generous offer to my people's leaders' attention," Miri said. "I only pray they'll accept it. Thank you and goodbye. I hope we will meet again."

"As do I," the Knight replied warmly. "May the Force be with you."

"May the Force be with you," Miri responded and then let her companion tug her away.

Igqirha led her fully into Hangar 25 and removed her blindfold. Her gaze immediately locked onto her starfighter. Burn marks streaked the side panels, but the ship looked flyable. An Ulwazan engineer ambled over and informed her that her ship had been repaired as much as possible and stocked for her flight back to Coruscant. The Jedi Knight thanked her and turned to say her farewells to Healer Igqirha.

"Thank you again, Healer," she said with a nod.

"It was our pleasure, Master Jedi. May the Great Trafin watch over you and your child. Safe journey," he intoned, bringing his fists together and bowing at the waist. She mirrored the bow and turned and boarded the starship.

The familiar surroundings provided some comfort. She slid into the pilot's chair and entered the command sequence to start the engine. The ship rumbled to life and she entered another sequence to fly the ship from the hangar and into the bright green sky. Once she cleared the atmosphere, she brought the navigation logs online and set a trajectory for Coruscant, making sure to plot a course around the nebula. With surprise, she noted she was beyond the Outer Rim, near Rakata Prime. It was a far cry away from the Baroli Sector, where the Rhyfelzans had attacked the Ulwazan homeworld. With another flick of her fingers, she started up the communications display, but the lights flickered on and off before fizzling out. Damn, it was damaged beyond repair. She turned back to the piloting console and happened to look in her rearview display. Her jaw dropped as she watched the planet disappear from view until only a backdrop of stars remained. It was one thing to know the Ulwazans had the technology to cloak their planet, it was another thing to actually see it. Her baby brushed their mind against hers, wondering what the delay was. The Knight recollected her thoughts and pushed the switch forward to activate the hyperdrive. With a slight rumble, the starship jumped into hyperspace, the stars becoming a blur.

-oOoOoOo-

Two standard days later, she dropped out of hyperspace and the enchanting planet of Coruscant appeared before her, its millions of lights twinkling against the backdrop of space. It didn't have the rolling green hills and clear blue waters of her homeworld of Naboo, but Coruscant certainly had its charms. As she flew closer to the planet, she could see the reddish-gold haze creating a beautiful sunset, which had an amazingly calming effect. However, the closer she came to the Jedi Temple, the more uneasy she felt. There was a disturbance in the Force. She could feel it in the back of her mind, nudging at her, telling her something was horribly wrong. Was it the baby? No… the problem was further away.

Boom! The ship listed to the side as the left thrusters exploded, having sustained too much damage on the trip through hyperspace. She skillfully maneuvered her starship so it was in line with the hanger entrance of the Jedi Temple and started the landing sequence. There was a group of Jedi waiting in the hangar; she could see the silver gleams of lightsaber hilts in their hands. She hadn't been able to inform the Council she was coming back, so she must seem like an alien intruder… attacking them with a damaged ship. She safely landed the starship, barely scratching the hangar floor, though she did leave a few skid marks. She gathered her emotions and stored them behind her mental walls and shielded the baby's life signature. With that, she disembarked to greet her fellow Jedi.

"Hello, everyone," she greeted them. There were a few familiar faces among the shocked crowd. She recognized Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas and Jedi Knight Rayk Rizaro. The others must be new Knights or Padawans.

"Master Rhydater?"

"How can this be?"

"We thought you died defending Ulwaza."

All the Jedi started asking so many questions that she could barely make out what they were saying.

"Yes, I am alive. I was caught in an explosion and had to recover in a Ulwazan bacta tank. It had special properties that muted my connection to the Force," she answered, trying to be concise. "Please excuse me. I need to report to the Council. Are they in session?"

"Yes," Master Sifo-Dyas nodded.

The stunned Jedi moved out of her way as she strolled forward. She made her way through the Temple quickly, moving up towards the Council chamber. She passed many Jedi Knights and Padawans and they all gave her astounded and speechless stares. The bad feeling she had increased ten-fold; just what had happened while she was gone? And where was Terrikan? He should have come to greet her by now. She reached out through their Infinity Bond, but a wall stood in her way. Why was Terry blocking her?

She swallowed her dread and continued up the stairs to the highest level in the Temple and entered the chamber that housed the Jedi Council. The Council looked up from their discussion and fell quiet as she entered, just as speechless as the Jedi she had passed on her way up. She noticed her customary seat was still empty despite her year-long absence.

Mace Windu was the first to break the silence. "Master Rhydater? Explain."

She gave the standard bow. "Greetings, Masters. I apologize for my abrupt reappearance. The communications console on my starship was damaged beyond repair. Not long after I arrived on Ulwaza, the negotiations with the Rhyfelzans fell apart and a full-out war ensued. I was ferrying the people to safety when the Rhyfelzan command ship and battle cruisers started shooting at the citizens. I led the charge to destroy the command ship. There was a chain reaction that destroyed the other cruisers. However, I was caught in the full blast of the explosions and had to spend considerable time in a Ulwazan bacta tank that muted my connection to the Force. I woke up two days ago and I flew straight back to Coruscant."

The Jedi Knight could say without a doubt that she had never seen the Jedi Council so speechless in all her two-hundred years. She grew worried as she saw some of the Master's faces become guarded. Something bad must have happened for them to be so quiet.

"What did I miss while I was gone?" Her voice came out quiet and she was unable to keep the worry from her tone.

Master Windu answered in a serious tone. "Terrikan Mitar has been expelled from the Order."

What? Her stomach jumped up into her heart. How could this be?

"What happened?" she asked.

Oh, no. Terry must have had an emotional outburst. He'd confided in her that he'd had trouble keeping his emotions under control as a Padawan and still had difficulties as a Knight, though the occurrences had become far and few in between. She had always had a calming influence on him, especially after they had bonded. She knew she shouldn't have left him behind, but she'd thought the mission would only take a week at maximum. She cursed herself for not thinking to ask the Ulwazans to send a message to the Council before they placed her in the bacta tank.

"He fell to the Dark Side, not six months after you went missing," Master Windu explained. "The more we searched for you and found no trace of your life signature, the more his emotions spiraled out of control. He was relentless in his search for you, bordering on obsession. We could feel his spirit becoming tainted with darkness. We had no choice but to expel him when he rebuffed our help. When we informed him of his expulsion, he refused to relinquish his lightsaber and fled into the unsavory bowels of Coruscant. He has been labeled as a rogue Knight and the Jedi have orders to arrest him on sight."

No choice?! They had witnessed a Jedi Knight in distress and instead of helping him, they had taken the easy way out, booting Terrikan out of the Order. In that moment, the reservations she'd always suppressed about the Jedi Order's strict practices surfaced again. They were close-minded and set in their ways; they refused to change their beliefs and despite her seat on the Council, she hadn't made a lasting impact on them.

Well, someone else with more clout would have to be the one to convince them that each Jedi will always have a dark, wild thread; it is not extinguishable, but it is controllable. She knew that better than anyone since she could not suppress her emotions as the Jedi were usually taught. She had learned early on that if she shoved her emotions away, they would eventually boil over and explode out. Her Jedi mentor had been Master Yoda, and he had suggested the meditating techniques of the original Jedi. Those techniques showed her how to accept the emotions she felt and how to release them into the Force. It was a highly difficult practice and had taken decades to perfect. She had to employ this technique now, as she felt the disappointment, guilt, and hate rise within her. Those emotions would do nothing for her or Terry now.

"Regret expelling Terrikan Mitar, we do. Too much hate and sorrow within him, we felt," Master Yoda broke the silence. "Let go of it, he could not."

"I wish I could say I understand, Master Yoda, but I cannot," she said, her voice devoid of all emotion. Well, the road ahead is clear now. She couldn't accept Terry was lost.

"It is with great sadness that I inform you I am resigning from the Jedi Order," she said with a firm, heartbroken voice. "I cannot stay here anymore."

"But you are a Jedi Master. You sit on the Council. You cannot..." Master Camfiel began.

"No, I am not a Jedi," she retorted. "Not anymore. I've been questioning my commitment to the Order for some time now. This is not a rash decision, Masters. I have experienced all I can here. It is time for me to move on."

This was met with stunned silence. Her decision was unprecedented. No Jedi of her high standing had ever willingly resigned from the Order. She could see some of the Masters trying to overcome their shock enough to deliver a retort. Before they could, Master Yoda spoke.

"Then wish you well, we do. May the Force be with you," he said softly, his eyes full of understanding.

"Thank you, Master Yoda," She strode forward and knelt down on one knee. "It has been an honor to learn from you. I wish you well."

Master Yoda gave her a faint smile and a graceful nod.

She started to get up again but paused. She pulled out her lightsaber and concentrated on using the Force to delicately pull it apart. The hinges holding the dark silver coverings unclasped and the parts gently floated apart before her, revealing the brightly glowing Kyber crystal within. She plucked the multi-hued crystal from the air and presented it to Master Yoda.

"I cannot bring this where I am going. Please take care of it for me," Sadness tinged her voice.

The Kyber crystal was crying out to her, asking why it had been removed. It had been with her since she was a Padawan. When she had gone to the crystal caves of Ilum and opened herself up to the Force, she had felt the pull of the crystal coming from Coruscant, not the caves. The Force led her to the Temple vaults and to a Kyber crystal which had belonged to an ancient Jedi Master who had lived thousands of years ago. The Jedi still didn't know why it had chosen her, but it had.

It was hard to let it go, but she couldn't let anything detrimental happen to the crystal. She didn't know where her path would lead, but she knew she would not come out of it as a Jedi. Kyber crystals were highly sensitive to the powerful effects of the Dark Side and were easily corrupted. Even this one, as old as it was, would be harmed.

Master Yoda nodded again and took the crystal from her outstretched palm. From where she was kneeling in front of him, she could see his eyes tear up a little.

"Take care of it, I will. Be safe, my old Padawan," he said with a heavy heart.

The former Jedi Knight reconstructed her lightsaber, sans Kyber crystal, and strode out of the Council chamber. As she left, the Jedi Masters regained their ability to speak and started talking all at once. The doors closed behind her, effectively shutting out their outraged voices.

She went to her old chambers to pack up her few belongings: spare clothes, an old holopic of her friends from Naboo, and a simple necklace from Terry. She then walked down the rows of Jedi Knight suites until she reached the one she wanted. She pressed a button and waited for the occupant to come to the door. The door whished open and she almost smirked as Qui-Gon Jinn's jaw dropped in shock.

"Rae?" he stuttered out. "You're alive!"

In an uncharacteristic move, Qui-Gon drew her into a crushing hug. Rae smiled and returned her friend's embrace.

"It'll take more than a little explosion to kill me," she said as Qui-Gon ushered her into his common room. "What happened with Terry? You knew him the best," Qui-Gon and Terrikan had grown up in the Temple together and had formed a close-knit friendship and shared several ideals. She'd joined their little group after she'd returned from her self-imposed fifty-year quest of soul-searching.

"I don't know what happened," Qui-Gon shook his head. "After we received reports of the end of the Rhyfelzan occupation and you and the Ulwazans disappeared, he became so quiet. The Jedi Order stopped the search after three months, but we continued to search every planet in the Baroli Sector and beyond. We followed every lead we had of your whereabouts. He was adamant you were still alive. I could barely get him to slow down enough to sleep and eat," Qui-Gon sighed. "Eventually, we returned to Coruscant and he started disappearing for days at a time. When I confronted him, he clammed up and refused to talk about it. There were a few times I could have sworn his eyes flashed yellow."

She felt her stomach clench as Qui-Gon said that. Yellow eyes were the characteristic traits of those who had embraced the Dark Side of the Force. Something about the way those users used the dark energy changed their eye color.

"Are you sure?" she whispered.

"I don't know," Qui-Gon shook his head. "I tried to get him to talk with the Temple healers, but he refused. The Council dismissed him a month later."

"Yes, Windu said something to that effect when I talked to the Council earlier."

"Is that all they told you?" Qui-Gon's face darkened.

"There's more?" Rae asked with disbelief.

"Terry refused to hand over his lightsaber and he disappeared into The Works District. He wouldn't answer any comms from me or Vos. We finally managed to track him down and establish contact. We went to meet him at the edge of The Works District," Qui-Gon sighed and brought up a hand to rub his face. "He was twitchy and looked terrible, like he was haunted by terrible nightmares. Vos started talking to him but he tensed up, drew his lightsaber on us, and accused us of leading him into a trap. Before we could reassure him that wasn't our intention, a Jedi strike force dropped into the square and tried to apprehend him. They'd hacked into our comms and followed us. He… he killed five of them and disappeared into the shadows."

Rae couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Jedi Order had used Terrikan's trust in his lifelong friend and former Master to lead him into a trap? If there had been any chance of bringing Terry back into the fold, it was now almost impossible. He thought he had nothing left and no one he could trust.

"I'm sorry, Rae," Qui-Gon said sincerely. "But he's gone."

"That's not true," She shook her head. If she could get close enough, she could make Terry see that he still had something to live for. "I can bring him back to the light."

"If anyone could, it would be you," Qui-Gon smiled knowingly. "May the Force be with you, my friend."

"May the Force be with you," Rae stifled the tears in her eyes and embraced her friend. She might never see him again. "Goodbye."

-oOoOoOo-

Rae made her way down to the medical sector of the Temple. She needed to speak with a medical droid before she left.

"Welcome," A droid greeted her as it rolled up. "How may I be of service?"

"I need medical supplies for a pregnant humanoid female. I will also need detailed information about pregnancy, especially during long-term space travel," she demanded. She wanted to be prepared for anything she encountered. Her knowledge about pregnancy was lacking.

"I am sorry, Master Jedi. You cannot be pregnant, so you do not need anything," If droids could sound puzzled, this one certainly did.

"Obviously, it's not for me," she lied. "Now please get the items I need."

"Oh. Alright, then," said the droid skeptically. It quickly brought the items and data she had requested.

She thanked the droid and left for the starship hangar. Her path took her by the crèche where the toddlers were training and learning social skills.

"Master Rhydater!" A young red-haired boy ran over and hugged her leg, followed by the apologetic crèche master. "You're back! Is Master Mitar with you?"

She laughed and carefully knelt down and embraced the four-year-old boy. "Hello, Obi-wan. I hope you're keeping out of trouble," The little boy had a knack for mischief.

"He somehow snuck into the kitchens last week and added wratcha root to the food. It turned everyone's skin purple," said the crèche master drily while Obi-wan giggled unrepentantly.

She smiled warmly and tickled the little boy, eliciting a new bout of giggles. Then she grew serious. "Obi-wan?" The boy looked up at her, frowning as he caught her change of mood. "I'm going away again and I might not be back for a long time."

"Why?" The boy's blue-grey eyes teared up. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, sweetie," she said, wiping away the tears falling down Obi-wan's cheeks. "Master Mitar has gone missing and I'm going to go find him."

The creche master coughed at that and Rae looked up at him and glared. The young Jedi pulled himself together and nodded. He wouldn't say a word to Obi-wan about what truly happened.

"Oh," Obi-wan sniffled. "Can I come with you?"

"No, you must stay here," She continued as the boy's eyes teared up again. "Stay strong, Obi-wan. I want you to work hard to become the best Jedi Knight in the history of the Jedi Order. When I come back, we'll go on missions together. How does that sound?" She hoped that would be enough to stave off any more questions or tears.

"Ok," Obi-wan said and hugged her tightly. "Bye."

"Goodbye, Obi-wan." She handed the sweet boy back to the crèche master and continued on her way to the starship hangar, wiping away a few tears of her own. She had been the one to find Obi-wan on an abandoned farm on Stewjon and had been a constant presence in his life. She was going to miss him.

When she stepped foot in the hangar, she found that Master Yoda had already informed the hangar attendants she would be needing a new starship packed with supplies for a long space journey. She placed her belongings and newly acquired supplies into a storage unit on the ship. In no time at all, she was flying up and away from Coruscant. She glanced at the planet, and sighed, imprinting the image in her mind. She wouldn't be returning for a long time, if at all. She moved her gaze from Coruscant to the star-infested space in front of her.

Determination built in her. Her growing baby sent a flash of happiness to her mind. She smiled. She could do this. She was going to find Terry and bring him back from the Dark Side, no matter how long it took. She opened her mind to the Force. Where should she go first? The answer came to her. Naboo, her homeworld. She set a course for the Chommel Sector and engaged the hyperdrive. The stars melted into a stream of light and she smiled as she hurtled towards her new life.

-oOoOoOo-

16 Standard Years Later – Theed, Naboo – Sabé

Sabé Rhydater loved her mother, but at the moment, she was very vexed with the woman. She rewatched her mother's holo-message, sadness and bitterness in her heart. Ever since Sabé turned ten, she'd hardly seen her mother for more than a few weeks at a time. Her mother had gone off, traveling the galaxy in search of her mate. Of course, Sabé didn't resent her for that; she'd been the one to tell her mother to go and do it. She only wished she could have gone as well. Sabé understood why she hadn't taken her only daughter with her. Sabé used to travel with her mother, but when she was eight, a vicious attack on Jatheia caught them unawares and Sabé's leg had been crushed. Her mother had been able to miraculously repair most of the damage with the help of a healer, but permanent nerve damage made it hurt every time she walked.

After the incident, they had returned home to Naboo, where her mother nursed her through her recovery. Two years later, Sabé practically ordered her mother to leave and continue her mission. It was obvious that her mother didn't want to leave her, but Sabé could tell she was desperate to continue her search for her missing mate. Sabé had convinced her to leave her in the care of the Anidale family and her best friend, Eirtaé. As much as Sabé wanted to accompany her, she knew her mother would never approve due to the accident. So she had let her mother go.

Her gimpy leg had caused her some problems over the years, especially when the girls at the finishing academy teased and bullied her. But Eirtaé always had her back and helped her to strengthen her leg and ace her etiquette, math, history, and self-defense classes. Over time, Sabé learned how to harness the Force just enough to make the pain fade away so she could use her leg to its fullest potential. Her grasp on the Force was tenuous at best, and when she was tired, it was harder to concentrate on pushing away the pain. Her mother had helped her where she could, but Sabé just couldn't seem to use the Force the way she could. But Sabé didn't mind; as long as she could temper her disability at times, she was happy. Her life was satisfying enough to occupy her attention, but she thirsted for something more, for adventure.

She had turned sixteen today and her mother – who'd been absent for four years except for the random transmissions every few months and the occasional visit – had managed to comm her to wish her a happy birthday, but had also relayed a cryptic message about her return to Naboo and a plan for the future. Sabé was miffed; couldn't her mother's plans wait until after her birthday? She'd hardly seen the woman in the past six years! She wanted to know her mother's embrace again and hear about her progress in finding her father.

"You're not still mad about your mother, are you?"

Sabé looked up as Eirtaé entered her room. "No," she sighed. "I can't stay mad at her. How can I when she's out there, searching the galaxy for my father? If she would let me, I'd be at her side. She's so close to finding him and she already feels guilty enough about being absent for the last four years. I worry about her."

Eirtaé grasped her hand. "Not many women have the bravery and commitment to see these kinds of things through to the end. I wouldn't worry too much about her. She can take care of herself."

"I know, but that doesn't stop me from worrying," Sabé breathed deeply and changed the subject. "Have you voted for the new Queen yet?"

Eirtaé smiled at Sabé's unsubtle attempt to change the conversation. "No, but I'm going to go and vote today. Do you know who you are going to pick?"

"Sort of. It's sort of hard to focus on their campaign promises when they have such flamboyant names," Sabé pulled on a light jacket and followed Eirtaé out onto the street.

Eirtaé gave out a peal of laughter. "I know, right? What kind of name is Jettanimeda or Qorbila?"

"I don't know, maybe they thought it would be fun to watch foreign dignitaries flounder as they tried and failed to pronounce their name correctly," Sabé mused, smirking as Eirtaé was spurred into another laughing fit. "Or maybe they're trying to distract us from actually noticing the platforms they're running on."

They strolled into the town square, which was decorated with campaign propaganda of the five candidates running for office. The women's young faces stared down at them from overlarge holo-posters, all of them hidden by the traditional Naboo white face paint. This practice helped the citizens to focus on the candidate's qualifications and promises and vote for the one whose beliefs matched their own.

"I think I'm going to vote for Amidala," Sabé mused as she thought back to the holovids of the candidate's speeches. "She's intelligent, thinks everything through, and has a solid plan for Naboo's future. And she doesn't have a ridiculous name, another point in her favor."

Eirtaé giggled. "Well, regardless of her name, I think she's the best choice too. The others are too inexperienced to lead the planet and I think Qorbila would plunge the planet into war at the first possible chance, whether it's against the Gungans or some other entity."

They cast their votes at the brightly illuminated voting booths and headed to their favorite café for a midday snack. But as they reached the edge of the town square, a notice on the wall caught Sabé's attention.

Become a handmaiden for the future Queen of Naboo! Women ages 11-18 may apply. Send your application directly to the Palace!

"What do you think about this?" Sabé asked Eirtaé excitedly as she looked over the list of requirements. A plan took root in her mind, becoming more enticing with every passing second. "It's perfect for both of us!"

"It looks wonderful, but the Handmaiden Trials take several months. Are you sure we're prepared for this?" Eirtaé's perfect blonde eyebrows raised skeptically as she read the notice. "Besides, your mom will be back on Naboo soon."

"The academy more than prepared us for this," Sabé huffed and waved her arm dismissively. "And my mother will understand. Besides, she's going to be busy implementing her own plans. This is my chance to show her I can handle her world."

Sabé caught Eirtaé's sad expression before it cleared.

"Alright, if you're sure… this is going to be great!" Eirtaé started jumping up and down in excitement. "Come on! Let's go get our applications sent in."

Sabé grinned as Eirtaé tugged her into a run.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please leave a review.