Obi-Wan awoke with a start; his heart slamming inside his chest; something was wrong. His mind projected one image, Amira. Something was terribly wrong. He leapt out of bed and ignited his lightsaber.
He entered her room and saw her thrashing around on the floor tangled in her bed sheets. She seemed to be struggling with some unseen assailant. He approached cautiously trying to sense another presence. He sensed only Amira.
Extinguishing his weapon he knelt down and grabbed for her hands. She was incredibly strong and fought him. She screamed and thrashed until he pinned her down and reached into her mind, "Amira wake up I am here. Do not fight me it's all right."
Her eyes slowly opened and focused on him. He released her and his hand went to her forehead and smoothed the damp hair from her brow. He saw something he had never seen in her eyes before, terror.
She threw herself into his arms and leaned against him trying to control her fear. He gently rubbed her back, "Amira, it's all right, what happened, what has frightened you?" The depth of her fear troubled him; he had never seen her like this.
She stayed in his arms and struggled to gain her composure. He asked again, "Please tell me why you are so upset?" She whispered, "…I will be the cause of your death." He pulled her tighter against him, "No…no you just had a nightmare; I am fine…besides; something tells me my Padawan is going to be the death of me." She laughed weakly, "Don't say that, it isn't funny." He smiled into her hair and said, "You laughed didn't you?"
He helped her from the floor and they sat down on the edge of the bed. He noticed a small trickle of blood coming from her lip and he reached up with his fingertips and gently wiped it away, "You bit your lip…tell me what happened."
She grew a little calmer and whispered, "I saw your death." He replied, "Amira you were having a nightmare." She shook her head, "It was more than a nightmare. I believe it is a vision of things to come. It was very real." He moved to get her a glass of water from the bedside table, "Tell me what you remember from the beginning."
She sipped the tepid water and began, "We were in negotiations with one of the provinces, Macaven West I think, Macaven East barged in and demanded to be heard before the West. They were armed and ready to pick a fight."
She took another calming breath and continued, "You convinced them to talk to me while you continued with the West. They were telling me about sacred relics that had been taken from them and the West was responsible. Macaven East insisted you should be listening to them first and that you were siding with their enemy and they considered it an insult." She stopped talking and lowered her head.
His hand went to her shoulder and he said, "Tell me what happened next." She sighed, "They overwhelmed me. I never saw it coming. You sensed it and were there in an instant. Holding a knife to my throat Dumaas said if you did not cease listening to the lies of the West he would kill me. You warned him not to harm me but at the same instant he pulled me out of the hall into the courtyard. You followed."
She paused to gain control and took a deep breath before continuing, "In the courtyard there was someone else. He was not of this world. He was dark, evil, I could sense it. He told the Macavens to kill me. You drew your lightsaber but he somehow snatched it from your hands into his own, he had command of the Force.
The Macavens forced me to my knees and pressed the knife to my throat. I could do nothing the Force had left me. The look in your eyes turned dangerous. You abandoned everything, your instincts, your training and rushed towards me. Just before you reached me the dark one closed on you cutting you down with your own lightsaber.
Then he turned to me and said I had brought about your death. I was overwhelmed by rage. I broke free and fought them hand to hand before they overwhelmed me again. The next thing I remember is hearing your voice and opening my eyes to find you leaning over me."
She was visibly upset from recounting the nightmare. He thought about her story for a moment and said, "It's just a dream; nothing like that would happen." She replied quietly, "I know it doesn't seem plausible but I have seen things before in my dreams.
His eye brows raised in question, "This has happened before?" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Yes…Have you ever wondered how I knew you had crashed all those years ago?" He nodded, "I have always wondered, I just assumed that you felt it somehow"
She responded, "I did feel it, but it was in a dream. I didn't know how it happened or where you were but I saw you injured and dying in my dream and I knew it was real. I spent the next several hours trying to touch your mind to find you."
He pulled her again into his arms, "I have no idea if this dream means anything or not, but I have no doubt that the dream you had before saved my life. I had given up until you touched my mind."
He pulled her closer to him and despite the circumstances he found himself savoring how she felt in his arms. His hands moved slowly up and down her back. He continued, "I can't discount that your dream tonight may be significant. We will be extra vigilant and not let ourselves be caught off guard." She nodded solemnly.
Reluctantly, he released her and gave her a reassuring smile, "I don't feel that kind of hostility from these people, not towards us anyway." She replied, "No, not from the Macavens but I do feel something, something dark and evil."
He stayed with her until she fell asleep. She had assured him that she was alright but he stayed with her anyway. As he sat in the chair across from her he looked at her beautiful face and reflected on her revelation that it had been a dream that helped her find him all those years ago.
It had been an accident; the ship he had been training in had malfunctioned and crash landed on a remote asteroid. He had been badly injured. More than two hours from his rendezvous with Qui-Gon he had begun to lose hope of being found. Convinced that he was going to die he had found himself wanting to see her, hear her voice and he called out her name.
He had wondered for years how she had heard him, how she had been able to reach his mind on an asteroid. She had been light years away from him on Coruscant and had found him. Amira's dream had saved him.
This made what had happened tonight all the more ominous and not easily dismissed. Parts of her story were highly illogical. He did not foresee any of the provinces reacting like that. He certainly didn't see Amira getting caught off guard and subdued by the Macavens.
They were interested in fighting each other not he and Amira. It had to be something else. Gradually all the facts melded together. Amira's perception of something dark and evil was probably right on.
They were dealing with something else. Something not of this world, the people of Macaven were not the threat. He would send a message to Coruscant first thing in the morning revealing his suspicions.
The next morning Amira emerged from her quarters looking tired and moving very slowly. They exited the building out into the bright Macaven sunlight. He asked with concern, "How are you feeling? Perhaps you should sit today out."
She shook her head; "No I am all right just need to work out the stiffness." He smiled, "That must have been some battle you had." She laughed, "You should've seen me. I just wish I would have had my lightsaber in my dream; would've made it a lot easier and shorter." He laughed at loud, "I bet."
He stifled his own yawn. She asked, "You didn't stay up all night did you?" He nodded as they walked towards the meeting hall and replied, "I had a lot on my mind." Her expression turned sad, "I'm so sorry. I am a grown woman and a Jedi you'd think I could handle a bad dream."
He smiled, "I like that you needed me. You were there for me on that asteroid and I've never forgotten it." She returned his smile and said, "I'll always need you Ben. I always have."
He replied, "No more nightmares, I don't want you needing me again tonight, I need some sleep." She laughed half heartedly, "I'll try not too. I just wish I knew what it meant."
He flashed a reassuring smile, "All we need to do is stay in control. I don't foresee these negotiations going that bad." She nodded, "Of course you are right, we just need to control the situation."
After the short walk they arrived at the meeting hall and prepared for another day of negotiations. As they took their seats Obi-Wan felt Amira's thoughts touch his, "Thank you for watching over me." He smiled and answered her, "Anytime your highness." She spoke audibly, "Please don't call me that." They both laughed.
Through out the day they spoke with several representatives and had heard many grievances that all began decades earlier when the results of a planet wide election had fallen into dispute.
The voting had been extremely close between five candidates and when a winner did emerge many Macavens proclaimed that the election was marked by fraud. The election results were revoked by the Macaven High Court and never settled.
From then on the regions represented by the five candidates carried out transgressions on each other that started as simple thievery. These people could not stop stealing from one another and over the years the petty theft had escalated into to all out war.
During a break in the negotiations Obi-Wan and Amira sat in the courtyard outside the hall. He asked, "Have you sensed anything from last night?" She shook her head, "No, nothing specific. Most of the people seem to be responding positively to the negotiations."
She looked back at the hall and then continued, "However I do sense that they are afraid of something." He nodded, "You are right they seem to be hiding something. The fear has nothing to do with these negotiations"
He felt Amira stiffen, "What is it?" he asked. She turned to look at him her eyes wide with realization, "There is something else here, something powerful; the being from my dream, its here."
He knew it was a matter of time before she reached the same conclusion he did, "I know, I sent a message to the Jedi Council early this morning." She whispered, "I've got a bad feeling about this."
He tried to be reassuring, "Hey how bad can it be? Organa and Kenobi are on the case." She gave him a halfhearted smile. He stood and held out his hand to her. She took it and she rose to stand facing him. He gave her hand a squeeze and said, "Don't fret princess I've got your back". He released her hand and they walked back into the hall to resume their work.
Amira sat carefully monitoring the conversation Obi-Wan was having with the Macaven West representative. She sensed his willingness to participate. Elsewhere in the building there were many who were afraid and guarded.
She moved away from the table and approached another group who was talking amongst themselves. She recognized them as Macaven East, the group from her dream and she felt hostility from them.
She bowed and asked, "Are there any questions I can answer for you?" The Macaven East leader Dumaas replied, "What makes you think you can resolve years of conflict in just a few days?"
She replied, "We won't resolve the years of conflict in the near term, but long term we hope to plant the seeds of understanding and trust that will continue after we have gone." He sneered at her and responded, "Too much has transpired and too many wrongs have been done."
He pointed at the Western Province, "They cannot be trusted they have done the most harm, why do you waist your time with them?" She replied, "All the groups will have an equal time to voice their grievances."
He shot back at her, "By going before us they will poison your thoughts!" She calmly replied, "I assure you our thoughts cannot be poisoned we are completely impartial. I am listening, what is your grievance?"
He grew more irritated with her and looked in Obi-Wan's direction "He should have granted us the chance to speak first." Flashes of last night began to play in her mind. She repositioned herself noting how far she should be to draw her weapon if needed. She would not be caught off guard here.
She cautiously replied, "If you are reluctant to speak with me, my partner will be with you after he has finished with the group from the West." He moved towards her closing the distance between them quickly, too quickly.
She grasped the hilt of her weapon concealed under her robe but did not draw it. She noticed a knife, it was the knife from her dream and Dumaas was wearing it strapped to his leg. Se took one step back.
Obi-Wan had apparently been monitoring the situation and appeared from nowhere to intercede. He moved in between Amira and Dumaas and stared directly in to the Macaven's eyes, "I think the situation calls for patience. You arrived here today slightly after the Western Province, so I am hearing them first."
He kept his gaze steady on Dumaas, "You will do well to remember that we are here to assist you. I am nearly finished talking with the West and if you wish I will hear your grievances next. In the meantime please extend the same courtesy to my associate as the others have done."
Dumaas seemed to grow embarrassed and he immediately changed his tack, "Please forgive my impatience; you are right we were delayed this morning. I will wait until you are ready for us."
He bowed slightly at Amira before walking away. She sensed much fear and regret from him. Amira remained at Obi-Wan's side through the rest of the negotiations carefully reading perceptions and reactions.
When Obi-Wan and Amira had reengaged with the province from the East, Dumaas was quick to voice his grievances, "We have been robbed for years. They have taken irreplaceable relics from us." They listened intently to Dumaas recount the wrongs made against his people.
When the leader was finished Obi-Wan spoke, "It is obvious your people have suffered from this war, but so have all the other provinces of your world. I have posed this question to the others and I now pose it to you, what would it take for you to agree to a truce?"
The leader laughed, "No truce with the West, the others perhaps, but not them." Obi-Wan pressed him, "But what if your relics were returned what if apologies were made?" Angry, the leader retorted, "Apologies? Unthinkable! The crimes are too many and too great."
Obi-Wan thought carefully about his next move, "What of the crimes you brought against them? Have your people not thieved?" Dumaas was taken aback and spat out his words, "You have been listening to garbage! We have done nothing that was not warranted! You insult our honor!"
Obi-Wan replied, "Injustices have been done by all, and honor would be served by returning what does not belong to you. The other groups have agreed to return to each other a few stolen items as a token of good faith and to demonstrate their willingness to move the peace process forward. You are the only one that seems reluctant, is there something you wish to tell us?"
Dumaas stood, clearly frightened by Obi-Wan's question. He stormed from the hall with his party trailing behind him. Amira whispered, "That could have gone better." Obi-Wan did not respond. She elbowed him, "Hey, it could have been worse." He smiled then and responded to her, "You do always look on the bright side."
She shrugged her shoulders and said, "One of us has to. Besides, today didn't turn out to be like my dream." He replied, "There were similarities though." She nodded, "Yes, Dumaas and his group were hostile and he had the knife from my dream strapped to his leg." He asked, "The exact knife?" She nodded again, "Yes, the exact knife."
He sat down and asked, "Did you notice anything else odd about his behavior?" She nodded, "Yes, the anger seemed forced not real. Dumaas seemed more scared and regretful than anything else."
He rubbed his temples, "Precisely, they are deceiving us and doing so with great fear. He sighed heavily, "This other mystery that we have to solve may have something to do with their fear."
She put her hands on his shoulders and rubbed gently, "Let's get out of here and call it a day. We can discuss our thoughts over some food and maybe several glasses of wine. I'm told the Macavens make fantastic wine.