7. Choices and trainings

Irri waited for Anakin before the door, taking her time to meditate, thought this time she focussed onto the strong vergence in the Force that stood behind the counsel door.

Anakin came back an hour later. Accompanied by Master Jinn and Obi-Wan.

The boy came to sit next to Irri at once.

Obi-Wan sighed but did the same.

"Why is it you follow us everywhere?"

She smirked and tilted her head to the side. "And what tells you I'm here for you, eh?" He huffed and rolled his eyes while she turned to Anakin. "How did it go?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. They said I was afraid."

Irri felt all colour fading in her face. That wasn't a good thing, being afraid. She knew lots about it. "It's about your family, isn't it?"

He nodded. "I miss my mother."

She sighed. "Anakin, you-"

"Ani. Call me Ani."

Irri grinned. "Ani. You must understand that you won't lose her. You are just apart for a moment. I myself have gone back to my home-planet to visit my parents. It had been a long time, but they were there."

Master Jinn's eyes settled on her weirdly.

Anakin's curiosity knew no bounds, it seemed. "How did it go for you?"

Irri's eyes locked on Master Jinn. And she lied. "Perfect."

And the boy smiled. "Thank you Irri."

"You're welcome."

Then the door slid open again. The Counsel had decided if Anakin would be trained or not.

Obi-Wan stood first and pulled Irri up with him, planting his hands on her shoulders and looking at her very seriously. "Go and have some sleep. We'll still be there in the morning."

Irri sleepily smiled up at him. "Thanks Obi-Wan." Then she turned to Anakin. "See you tomorrow Ani. I'll be crossing my fingers for you."

The boy smiled shyly at her. "Thanks."

!-!-!-!-!

"You do not think this a good idea."

Irri was standing on a balcony here on Coruscant. Her hands were playing with her leather necklace. Someone was standing behind her. It was he who had spoken.

She sighed. "I don't know, Ani. Perhaps it is a good idea to hide her onto her own planet, but I do not think you should go alone."

"Then come with us."

She closed her eyes, her heart painfully throbbing in her chest.

A moment passed, a silence stretched.

"I'll come."

!-!-!-!-!

Once again, Irri woke up with a start.

Those visions were more and more vivid as time passed.

But this time, she was with Anakin. Whose face had been hidden by her own stance.

Surely her throbbing heart had something to do with him, but what?

And why had she felt so sad?

!-!-!-!-!

The following morning found Irri in the training room with her master, although her mind was not quiet.

And apparently, it showed.

"Your mind is troubled, young one. Speak up, what is the matter?"

Irri put down her practise sabre. "The boy who arrived with Master Jinn is not there, master. I've looked everywhere through the Force. His signature is gone."

Aayla sighed. "Irri... Master Jinn has left Coruscant late last night. He and his padawan Obi-Wan are attempting to take back Naboo. I'm sure he has taken the boy with him."

Irri felt betrayed. He had promised!

But as soon as the pang echoed in her chest, it disappeared.

"I understand. I will wait for his return then, and pray they manage to take back my home-planet."

Aayla nodded. "I'm proud of you, Irri. Now stand. We have still much to do."

!-!-!-!-!

Later that day, Irri locked herself into one meditation room.

She had found that she could read the Force enough to make what was happening onto another planet, although far it was.

Her mind was locked onto Naboo and onto the three life forms that were specifically linked to the Force.

Late in the morning, they had reached a congregations of lesser beings – Gungans, she guessed.

And the the middle of the afternoon, they all reached Theed.

Qui-Gon kept Anakin close, she could feel.

Until...

"No!"

Irri's eyes flashed open, and fear leaked into her heart long enough for her to lose connection for a split moment.

A fourth Force-sensitive had appeared.

And a much darker one...

Irri's blood froze in her veins, but she forced herself back into her meditation.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had left with the stranger, while Anakin was...leaving Theed at high speed...no, he was not leaving Theed. He was leaving the planet!

This time Irri's eyes shot open with no chance of going back.

She could not understand anything that happened out there if she wasn't with them.

All she could do was wait.

And fight the disturbing feeling she had something might very well turn wrong...

!-!-!-!-!

Irri was making her way to the library – searching desperately for a way to entertain herself and change her course of thoughts – when she felt something huge happen in the Force.

An immense hole. Something – or someone – disappearing for good.

Irri fell to her knees and clutched her tunic just above her heart.

"Please no."

She closed her already teary eyes and focussed onto the signature of those she had been spying on earlier.

One was missing.

!-!-!-!-!

"Padawan Nabié?"

Irri's eyes shot open, her heart still painful, her body still shaking in pain.

Master Yoda was standing in front of her, his huge green eyes sad too.

She tried to stand but failed, falling to her knees once again.

Even her voice was shaking. "Master Jinn...he's-"

"He is. Grave thing the loss of a Master is, grave indeed." The old master, small as he was, could put a helpful hand to Irri's shoulder without crouching. "Close your mind to the pain you must."

Her eyes met his, although through the tears she could not very well see his face. "He was my friend."

"And mine. Wrong it would be to be weak because of him."

Irri nodded, understanding the words. "It'd be better to grieve silently."

"Grief is not pain. Grief remembering, honouring is. Qui-Gon in our hearts remain."

And this time she managed to stand.

And bow low. "Thank you Master."

His eyes were still dark with sorrow. "Rest we must. A dreamless sleep those who knew him best will need. Go to the medics I will. Take belladonna we all will."

She nodded. "I will wait for delivery in my quarters." She bowed again, then turned around to go back the way she had come.

Her Master was waiting for her at the door.

No words were exchanged.

Aayla opened her arms, and Irri went to nestle herself in her grasp.

Tears silently flowing down their cheeks.