{A/N: Kiran Quin, Darth Scion, Nalah, and Zandra Sunrider are all my OC's.}
The drip-drip-drip of droplets hitting the cave floor awoke Kiran Quin from a restless sleep. He wearily opened his eyes and for a moment everything looked blurry. As his vision cleared, he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
A bright flash blinded him, and he shielded his face with his arms. When he could finally see again, the cave was empty as before.
He looked down at his body. His black robe and tan tunic were ripped and torn to nearly shreds, and his brown leggings were riddled with holes. He was missing a boot—his left one. His hands went to his sides, checking for his weapons . . . Shaking his head he sighed with frustration. His lightsaber and shoto were missing too.
"He's awake, Lord Scion," came a smooth, evil voice from the darkness of the cave.
Kiran scrambled to his feet, backing up as quickly as he could. Someone Force-slammed him to the ground, and with the air knocked from his lungs, he was unable to cry out with pain.
"Oh good," said another darker, more sinister voice. "The boy was not fully incapacitated when you took him for me, Nalah."
Kiran tried to get up, but someone was Force-holding him to the ground, and when he struggled, the grip grew tighter.
"Please!" he cried out, "Let me go!"
"Let you go?" asked the dark voice. "I can't do that, young Jedi. I must kill you. Or, you must kill me."
A cowled figure in a dark cloak stepped out of the shadows, accompanied by a slightly taller, thinner figure, also hidden by a dark cloak.
Kiran felt fear shudder through him. The first figure laughed mirthlessly. "Look at how he tries to cover up his feelings!" he said to the taller one.
"Y-you're the Rogue Sith!" Kiran stammered, his worst fears coming true.
"Y-you're c-c-correct!" mimicked the evil Sith Lord. "And now that Lord Sidious has been destroyed, it is time to step out of the shadows and take over his Empire!"
His shadow fell over Kiran's face. The dark-haired boy cowered.
"No Jedi will stop me!" said the Sith, walking close enough for Kiran to see his many small horns, marking him as a Zabrak. His face, however, was painted pitch black with blood red stripes lining his cheeks, and all of his horns were painted the same crimson color as the stripes on his face.
"And now, boy, you will make your choice. To kill, or be killed!"
. . .
Anakin used the Force with great exertion, grunting a little under his breath as he found, one by one, that each Jedi Knight standing before him could not hold up their mental shields. He penetrated each mind, as gently as he could so he would not destroy anyone's mind, and found that none of them were real people. All except . . .
"None of you are real," he said slowly. "Except . . . that young woman, there."
At once, the simulacrums disappeared, all except for one. The human girl stepped forward. Her long dark hair was pulled back from her face in a loose ponytail. She wore a traditional Jedi tunic and leggings with knee-high boots.
"Are you sure that I am real?" she asked in an eerily soft voice.
"As skilled as you are in hiding your mind, I did feel one faint tendril of the Force. It felt curious to me. Like for a nanosecond you wondered something and then remembered what you were supposed to be doing," smiled Anakin. Silently he congratulated her. He had almost failed in recognizing that she was separate from the simulacrums.
Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink against her pale skin. She bowed slightly to Anakin. "You are most insightful, Jedi Skywalker."
"Well done, Anakin!" came Mace Windu's voice. For the second time that day, Anakin turned to the Council doors and watched as the Jedi Masters filed through, each with an approving smile on their faces. Master Shaak Ti even winked at Anakin, her smile wide.
"Young Skywalker, kneel," commanded Master Windu. Master Yoda approached Anakin as he knelt down on one knee. Leaning on his Gimer stick, Yoda stood quietly before Anakin, before saying,
"A Jedi Master, you have become. Proved to us, you have, your ability to receive this rank. Give you, we do, the respect and honor due a Master. Continue to sit on the Council, you will, as Master Skywalker." He raised his Gimer stick and gently touched Anakin on the shoulder with it.
Anakin stood and his smile was broad. He laughed as Obi-Wan gave him a hug and pounded him on the back.
"Oh, well done, well done Anakin!" praised Obi-Wan.
"Very good, Master Skywalker," smiled Shaak Ti, bowing her head to him slightly.
As he was congratulated by all the members of the High Council, Anakin noticed the young Jedi Knight slip out of the chamber.
"Master," he asked, when the noise had receded and he and Obi-Wan were strolling down a corridor together, "who was that Jedi Knight in my final trial?"
Obi-Wan smiled mischievously, "You're not thinking of leaving Padme now, are you?"
Anakin frowned. "No! Don't say such things," he grumbled.
Obi-Wan laughed, nudging Anakin's shoulder. "You never let me tease you."
"Master, I have never let you tease me. I don't know why you still try," said Anakin as maturely as he could muster.
"Well, some of us have rather meager hopes and dreams," chuckled Obi-Wan. "And to answer your question, that was Zandra Sunrider. She has always been rather meek and quiet, and seldom to be seen or heard. I think she's always admired you—that would explain her blushing when you spoke to her at the end." His smile was wide and he laughed.
"Who was her master?" Anakin asked curiously. He'd never seen her or heard her name before.
"Why, Aayla Secura," said Obi-Wan, surprised that Anakin hadn't known. "Sunrider is the daughter of Neema-Da-Boda, in the Sunrider family line. Nomi Sunrider is her long distant maternal relative."
"Well, thank you for the genealogy, but that doesn't help me recognize her. I wonder why I haven't seen her before," said Anakin thoughtfully.
Obi-Wan shrugged. "Perhaps because you were never in a leadership position to hear of her, I suppose. Master Secura kept Sunrider quiet, because the girl has been known to have the potential for the Dark Side in her blood."
"Sunrider . . . that's very interesting," Anakin said quietly.
"Indeed," said Obi-Wan, a smile playing at his moustache. "She and Aayla arrived last week from Felucia."
They walked down the corridor in silence for a little while.
"I feel your thoughts wandering, Anakin," said Obi-Wan quietly. "Maybe it's time to visit your friend?"
Anakin nodded. "She'll be glad to hear the news. Thank you Master." He smiled and ran the last few meters of the corridor, turning the corner and disappearing into the bright night of Coruscant.
. . .
Zandra Sunrider met Aayla Secura in the Temple's Room of a Thousand Fountains. Waterfalls and huge amounts of flora, meditative areas, pottery, and stone walkways decorated the huge room, which had been placed at the base of the temple hundreds of years before.
At the moment, Master Secura was meditating quietly by some large, feathery-leafed plants, next to a large vase that had an inscription of the first Jedi Purge. She cracked her eyes open and a smile crossed her blue face.
"Ah, young Sunrider. How did the Trial of Insight go for Skywalker?" she asked humorously. "Did he pass?"
Zandra sounded slightly miserable as she sat next to her master. "Of course he passed," she muttered, adjusting her lightsabers on her belt so they wouldn't stick her in her back. The cool marble stones that formed the small circle in the midst of the plants was calming, and she tried her best to use the Force to lift herself off the ground and balance on one foot.
Secura snickered, ruining Sunrider's concentration, and she fell on her backside. One of her lightsabers jammed into her hip and she let out a little cry of surprise and pain.
"Ow!"
Aayla couldn't help herself. She rolled her eyes and laughed, getting up to assist her Padawan from the floor.
"Your concentration needs a lot of work, Sunrider," she said, trying to be stern and failing as she chuckled.
"I know," said Zandra, sounding even more miserable. She stood. Though she felt stupid, her posture spoke of a young women who was fully confident in her abilities. So her shoulders didn't slump, even though her eyes were downcast.
"It will take time," said Aayla sympathetically, touching her cheek gently. "One day, you'll get it right. And no one will be able to distract you."
"Well, that's the reason Master Skywalker passed," said Zandra, sounding dejected.
"What?" asked Secura curiously. "How do you mean?" Her Twi'lek head tails twitched, as a small smile played on her lips.
"I lost concentration . . ." Sunrider mumbled.
Secura leaned closer. "I'm sorry, what was that?" she asked playfully.
"I lost my concentration and he was able to feel me through the force, okay!" Zandra said frustratedly. Secura smiled gently and grabbed her padawan in a hug, patting her back. Young Sunrider just stood there, her arms hanging dejectedly at her sides.
"Ah, well. I highly doubt it was your inability as much as it was his high level of skill, Sunrider," Aayla said reassuringly. Zandra broke out of the hug and nodded to her master.
"I appreciate your confidence in me, Master. But—"
Secura smiled, "But what? My assessment of you is wrong? Listen, Sunrider, I've known you since you were half my height. I know you, who you are and what you are capable of. And Anakin Skywalker is the Chosen One. He is stronger, much stronger, in raw power than I. His skills are getting just as high. At any rate, I don't think you broke down much today. It was him, not you, that allowed him to pass the test." She placed a soft, blue hand on Zandra's shoulder.
"Now, come and meditate with me." She steered young Sunrider back to the marble stone circle from which they had wandered about a meter during their talk, and sat down across from her. Reluctantly, Zandra complied, and closed her eyes.
I can't even hide my Force presence. What kind of a Jedi am I? She thought angrily at herself.
Will you please, please calm your mind and concentrate, Sunrider?came Secura's mind presence. It was strong and gentle at the same time, and feeling her there, Zandra instantly felt a wave of calmness wash over her.
. . .
It was growing late. Aayla Secura was standing on a balcony of the Temple, looking out over Coruscant, the sapphire-blue, blood-red, and rusty-orange sunset alluringly beautiful at this time of the evening. The lights from transports and buildings alike gave the illusion of a billion jewels glittering in the air between buildings. Though the air was smoggy, and not as pleasant to breathe as it was to look at, Secura didn't mind stepping out once in a while to gaze out at the city and wonder what the future held for her mysterious Padawan. The roar of speeders and starships and large transport was a loud hum, sometimes intermitted with mechanical alarms, depending on the traffic passing by at the moment. Secura leaned against the marble banister, the cool stone against her vibrant blue skin.
I find it more relaxing to gaze at the scenery from inside, Master, came a gentle tendril of thought.
Spying on me, I see, thought Secura, amused. Her blue skin reflected the strange glow of the sunset, and she turned to see Young Sunrider standing just inside the large arched doorway that led out to the marbled balcony.
Their shared and momentary glance was interrupted by a starfighter crashing into the landing platform below. Smoke billowed up and sparks flew as the cockpit flew open and a young Jedi stumbled into the crushed marble flagstones. Blood streaked his face, his dark black hair smouldering where a couple sparks had found their way into it. A spot on his skull was matted with blood, as if he had cracked his head against the cockpit glass, or against the control panel. He glanced around, as if searching for someone, and then collapsed only a meter from the ship.
Aayla Secura leapt from the balcony, her headtails waving in the air as she soared downward, and landed lightly on her feet, springing down to the landing platform where the starship had burst into flames. The young Jedi was very light, and she lifted him onto her shoulders, quickly carrying him up the stairs into the Temple, away from the flaming mass of twisted metal that had been, seconds before, a blue and gold starship.
Sunrider appeared with Eeth Koth and Mace Windu, and the young Jedi was placed on a stretcher and taken deep into the Temple with Master Secura and Padawan Sunrider at his side, his destination a bacta tank in the Medic Center.
. . .
Kiran awoke in a clear synthetic fluid, his vision blurred. He could see figures moving around outside the tank, and noises they made were so muffled by the bacta fluid that he could hardly distinguish between human voices and mechanical sounds.
He closed his eyes and tried to remember what had happened before the crash.
Master Jhoren Lorus' grey grizzled face was solemn as they landed on the surface of Ossus, a dangerous mission because the planet was toxic. The Jedi Council had sent the two of them there to track the whereabouts of what they thought was an Rogue Sith. However, the moment the gunship had set down upon terra firma, an ambush of heavily armed Native Ysanna attacked them. Kiran had woken up in that strange cave and met the Sith Lord. Darth Scion had his accomplice bring out Kiran's old Master and tortured the old man until Kiran had begged with tears for his Master's life. And then—then with a wicked laugh, the Sith had slashed open the throat and belly of Master Lorus. The old Jedi Master barely had the time to tell Kiran to get off the planet to warn the Jedi Council, before his body fell with a very moist thud. Kiran had blinked twice, then looked up and glared at the Sith Lord before throwing himself at the dark cloaked figure, eager to engage his enemy in battle . . .
The movement outside his tank had increased. Then he felt a pressure shift in the liquid around him. In a few moments, the bacta fluid had drained down past his shoulders and his vision cleared as it kept draining out of the tank. In minutes the entire tank had drained and he was being mechanically lifted out of it, synthetic liquid dripping from his dark hair. A robotic arm carefully removed his breathing mask, and he coughed a little bit. He could taste a sickly-sweet tang in his mouth and it nearly made him gag.
"He is looking much better, Master Windu," said the Medic Droid. "He will be kept here for medical observation for twenty-four hours."
"Master Windu?" asked Kiran weakly, stumbling forward. The white medical wrap around his waist was sagging off his hip a bit. A pair of strong arms caught him, steadying him.
"Careful. You've been through a big ordeal. It's time to rest easy, you're safe here." The voice was calming, gentle and kind. It was a very feminine voice.
"I'm all right," he said with a faint smile. "I can manage."
"Not yet, you can't," she said firmly, but still in that gentle tone. "You're very weak, and the injuries you sustained were great."
"I need to see . . . warn the Council . . . great threat . . ." he mumbled, leaning heavily against Aayla Secura. His hair was wet with the bacta that had started to evaporate, leaving a weird jelly substance in its wake. Sunrider glanced at her Master, who shrugged.
"Please bring him over here and set him on the observation table. We will clean him and let him rest," said the Medic Droid in an irritated tone. Aayla obeyed, carefully laying him down on the metallic surface, then backed away, a strange expression on her face.
"Come back tomorrow. He should be ready to leave then," said the Droid, guiding them to the door. It hissed shut behind them. Sunrider huffed.
"Medic Droids are so pushy," she said, with a backwards glance at the door.
"They were built that way, Padawan," smiled Master Secura, one of her headtails twitching in amusement. "And, as it is, the young male human is no longer our personal concern. Though he looks vaguely familiar to me . . ."
. . .
The Sith Lord, Darth Scion, paced the darkened room, waiting for the holocomm he was expecting from his Sith apprentice, Darth Jadus. Their holocomm's were usually brief, long enough for the Sith Lord to give detailed orders for his apprentice to carry out.
Finally there was a beep, and the Sith pushed a button on the holoprojector that sat on a desk. A figure concealed in dark robes and shadows appeared on the desk, only ten centimeters high, but menacing as ever.
"What can you tell me of your mission, Jadus?" asked the Sith Lord coolly.
"I am here, my Lord," said Jadus, his voice distorted by the holocomm. "I have not been found out."
"Good. If the Jedi have not sensed your presence on Coruscant, then it is doubtful that they will find you until our plan is well under way," said the Sith, his horned brow furrowed as he continued to pace.
"My Lord, how long will I stay concealed?" asked Darth Jadus.
There was a pause. The Zabrak Sith Lord was thinking. His dark clothes seemed to hide him in the shadows whenever he crossed the room where the light was faintest.
"You will stay hidden until I send for you myself," he said finally, walking as carefully as he was thinking. "In order to destroy the Jedi, we must lull them into a false sense of security. With the fall of Darth Sidious, they think they have won, and that there is nothing to fear. No doubt they are concentrating on whom they will place next in the Supreme Chancellor's chair."
"How can we stop them?"
The Sith's smile was laced with poison. "I will step forward and reveal myself. That old senile Sith Lord founded an empire, and now it needs a ruler. And we will destroy anyone that dares to even sit upon the Supreme Chancellor's place in the Senate!" His fist was gripped tightly in the air before his face. "I will rule in that old fool's place!"
. . .
Anakin awoke in the middle of the night, a cold sweat on his body. His sudden jolt awoke Padme, and she struggled to sit up, feeling in the dark for her husband.
"Ani, what is it?" she asked sleepily. He took her hand in the dark and kissed the back of it, letting her stroke his cheek.
"I have a horrible feeling that our troubles with the Sith have only begun," he said quietly. "I had a dream where the Republic was destroyed . . . I saw a dark figure who was a Sith, and he looked at me and told me he was going to kill me . . . and you."
Padme scooted close to Anakin and wrapped her arms around his bare chest, resting her soft cheek against his shoulder.
"I know that you think all your dreams are prophetic, Ani, but Palpatine is dead. The threat is gone—"
Anakin stiffened. "That's exactly what the Sith would want us to think, Padme. No one would be expecting them to rise up after the Sith Lord was destroyed. They've got to be hiding somewhere, and I need to find where they are and eradicate them."
"It's all right to be a little paranoid," Padme said, kissing his cheek. "I trust your feelings more than mine. If you really think that the Sith are on the rise, I believe you." She laid back down wearily and sighed. "Can you sleep now?"
Anakin smiled and stroked her hair. "Nope. I'm going to the Temple and telling Obi-Wan what I saw. I'm not taking any chances, not when we're this close." He leaned over and kissed her gently, touched her cheek with his fingers affectionately, then got out of bed. Within minutes he had dressed and hung his lightsaber on his belt. He went over to the bed and kissed Padme again.
"I love you. I will protect you with my life, milady. No harm will come to you if I can prevent it."
She smiled and raised up on her elbow to cup his cheek in her hand. "I love you too, Ani. Holocomm me when you're all done so I don't worry."
"You got it." And with one more kiss, he left the bedroom in a swirl of Jedi robes. The front door hydraulics hissed open and shut, and Padme felt a tear trickle down her cheek as she rolled over under the sheets. It would be a long, long night.
. . .
Obi-Wan was meditating when someone comm'd in at his door.
"Who's there?" he asked warily.
"It's me, Master. Will you let me in?" Obi-Wan knew by the tense sound of Anakin's voice that something was very wrong. As the hydraulics hissed open, Anakin didn't wait for an invitation, but walked in quickly, and stood before Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was sitting on the edge of his cot.
"I forgot how . . . cozy . . . these little alcoves are," Anakin said dryly.
"Did you interrupt my nighttime meditation to make me aware of how tiny my living space is, Anakin? Or is there something real you'd like to talk with me about?" said Master Kenobi, with a hint of a smile playing about his moustache.
Anakin's body language was tense as he kept himself from pacing the floor. "Master, I saw, in a dream, that the Sith are going to rise up again, this time a more powerful Sith Lord than Sidious, who will kill all of us . . . who will kill me."
"So, what you're saying is, you had such a bad nightmare that you had to come all the way to the Temple to tell me about it?" asked Obi-Wan genially.
"Will you stop trying to use humor and just listen?" Anakin asked frustratedly. "By the Force, sometimes you really exercise my patience!"
"I exercise your patience, Anakin? You really don't remember much of our Master and Padawan days together, do you?"
"Master! Please!" Anakin said with a tinge of anger.
"Very well," sighed Obi-Wan kindly, "Let's say that your dream is a prophetic vision of future events that will come to pass. So the Sith will rise up with an even more powerful Lord than Darth Sidious. What are we to do with that information? Did your dream tell you how many there were? Or how we can find them and defeat them before they have the chance to rise up and defeat us?"
Anakin gritted his teeth. "No."
"All right," said Obi-Wan, nodding calmly. "Well, even if the Sith do rise up against us once more, this time they don't have an agent inside the Senate, which should be helpful."
"We don't know that, Master," said Anakin quickly.
"Well at least they don't have an army of thousands of clones, which we do," said Obi-Wan. "Exactly how many Sith did you see rising up in your dream, Anakin?"
Anakin felt like Obi-Wan was poking fun at him, but calmly answered, "Just one."
"I see," said Obi-Wan, becoming silent and closing his eyes to think. "Well, I think you have reason to be worried, Anakin. Your dreams have been correct in the past, but that may have been because you made a move to correct the future you saw, and therefore, most likely created that future by trying to avoid it."
"Are you saying that my mother's death was my fault?" asked Anakin quietly.
"No, that's not what I'm saying," sighed Obi-Wan. He stood up and placed his hands on Anakin's shoulders in a fatherly gesture. "Look, my young friend, why don't you go home and get some rest. When you come back tomorrow, we will take this up with the Jedi Council and see what move they want to make. I trust your feelings, Anakin. If you think that there is a threat, then it is most likely your feelings are true."
Anakin turned and walked out of the room. At the door, he looked over his shoulder. "It means a lot to me that you trust what I think, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan Kenobi smiled at his friend. "It means a lot to me that you appreciate it. We will find out why you had that dream, Anakin. Don't worry."
"Thanks, Master," said Anakin, and the door hissed shut.
Obi-Wan sat back down on the edge of his bed, feeling troubled. He wondered, amused, if he would be able to fall asleep now.
. . .
"Are you going to talk to him, or are you going to just stare a hole right through his head?" asked Master Secura as she smiled at her Padawan. At Zandra Sunrider's shocked look, her master laughed, her blue head-tails twitching with amusement. "Honestly, Sunrider, you could not be more obvious about your interest in him. And you know the rules."
"But who is he?" asked Padawan Sunrider, as she and her Master were standing in the large, domed hallway, behind one of the large marble pillars.
"He is a Jedi Knight," said Aayla Secura, shrugging. "That's all you should really care about, Sunrider."
Zandra rolled her eyes. "It's not like I'm going to try and start something with him, Master," she protested. "I'm just worried . . . about his head . . . injury." She trailed off, staring at the dark-haired young man who was talking with Master Windu across the way, by another large marble pillar.
Secura couldn't help snorting. "Of course." She grabbed Zandra's tunic by the arm and began dragging her away. "You and I have some training to do, Padawan. I'm making you take the trials soon, and you had better pass the first time around!"
"Oh! But—!" protested Sunrider as Master Secura pulled her away, heading off to the training room where they could spar.
At the pillar where Mace Windu stood talking with Kiran Quin, the sight of the blue-skinned Twi'lek pulling her reluctant Padawan away was only noticed by the younger Jedi, who was obviously more prone to distraction than Master Windu.
"This is a serious matter that the Council should meet over," Windu was saying as Kiran's blue eyes drifted away for a moment. "You will come to a meeting this evening and tell the whole Council everything you know about this threat, and about what happened to you and your master."
Kiran nodded. "Of course, Master. As you wish."
Windu placed a hand on the young Jedi's shoulder, sounding genuinely sorry. "I am deeply sorry for the loss of your Master, Jedi Quin. Jhoren Lorus was a great Jedi Master, and he will be missed."
A lone tear traced down Kiran's cheek as he bowed his dark-haired head. "Thank you, Master. I know that he is with me always in the Force."
Mace Windu nodded, patted Kiran's shoulder, and then walked away, leaving the young man alone. As the more experienced Jedi walked away, Kiran wiped the tear from his face with the back of his hand. Without looking, he stepped into the hallway and walked right into Anakin Skywalker.
"Ouch!"
They both stepped back, Anakin rubbing his chin, Kiran rubbing his nose.
"Watch where you're walking!" scowled Anakin. "Did you have to step right out in front of me?" He saw Kiran's bandages and sighed, his scowl lessening. "Sorry. What I should've said was, 'Are you okay?'" His stance said he wasn't too sorry though, and he expected Kiran to accept most of the blame for the little incident.
"S-sorry, Master Skywalker," apologized Kiran, looking embarrassed. "I wasn't looking. I'm clumsy anyways . . . I have a lot on my mind." He looked so apologetic that Anakin kind of felt a bit embarrassed for him.
"Well, it's okay. I mean, it was just a little bump. I over-reacted," said Anakin, a lot more kindly than he had been at first. "I mean it. It's all right. Don't get all hung up on it."
Kiran smiled a little. "Thanks. I really am sorry."
Anakin waved his hand. "Seriously. Don't worry about it." Then he paused. "Hey, wait a minute. You're the kid that crashed into the landing platform a few days ago, aren't you?" His expression grew solemn. "I'm sorry for the loss of your Master. That must have been really hard."
Kiran's eyes watered, but he straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. "It's all right. He—he's in the Force now, and I know that wherever I go, he's always with me." He trailed off, looking away.
Anakin looked Kiran in the face, touching one of his shoulders carefully. "Are you going to be okay?"
Kiran nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'll be fine. Thanks, Master." He walked away quickly before Anakin could ask any more questions.
Anakin watched the younger Jedi hurry away with an odd expression on his face. Something felt . . . weird.
. . .
The Room of a Thousand Fountains was beautiful. The sound of the water gushing down into small pools, the smell of clean earth and fresh vegetation was all so energizing and peaceful, it was an instant feeling of calm for Kiran as he stepped around the plants and pottery, gazing at the art and beauty around him.
As he stepped around a clump of large ferny plants, he saw the girl from earlier, sitting with her master. The Twi'lek was levitating above the marble stone, lifting a potted plant into the air with the Force. Her Padawan, however, was struggling to levitate herself, focusing on balancing on one foot underneath her crossed legs. Her frame was trembling.
"It's a lot easier if you relax," commented Kiran helpfully. There was the sound of pottery breaking, not from Aayla Secura, who had opened her eyes and was still successfully levitating both herself and the potted plant, but from her Padawan, who had fallen over and knocked a different potted plant from its place near the pool edge.
Zandra picked herself up angrily, looking at the potted plant with frustration, then shooting a glance of distrust at Kiran. When she saw who it was, however, her expression softened, and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
Aayla Secura set the potted plant down carefully, and then rested her own body on the cool marble flagstones below. She stood regally, assessing Kiran Quin with a cool glance.
"Is there a particular reason you came here and disturbed our meditation?" she asked curiously. "My Padawan already has difficulties with her focus. The last thing she needs is someone sneaking up on her to frighten her out of her studies."
"I didn't mean to surprise you—" Kiran began, but Master Secura raised one blue hand to quiet him.
"No, no. I'm sure you didn't. But when you mask your presence in the Force and sneak up quietly on someone who is concentrating really hard with their eyes closed, it kind of gives the impression that you were going for the element of surprise, if you know what I mean," said Aayla calmly.
Kiran bowed his dark-haired head. "I'm truly sorry. I was trying to be helpful by being quiet and masking my Force presence. I just—when I saw your face," he said, turning to Sunrider to explain, "I just had to try and give you a little advice. You looked like you were about to pass out from pure concentration."
Sunrider finished brushing off her clothes and smiled. "Yes, well. Apology accepted. I'm not very good at meditation anyway. You just—took me a little off-guard, that's all."
"Would it be okay we talked for a little while?" asked Kiran, the question directed at Sunrider, but his glance at Secura was for permission.
The Twi'lek master nodded. "Very well. I can see that your reunion can't be put off for long. You may converse for a little while," She walked to Zandra, placing her hand on her shoulder. "But don't take too long. We still have a lot more to do today." She briefly cupped Zandra's cheek in her hand, then with a kind glance at Kiran, she walked away from them, disappearing among the various large plants.
"Do I know you?" asked Sunrider, her long hazelnut colored hair gleaming in the soft ambient lights that were meant to reflect the light of Coruscant's suns.
Kiran smiled. "I think so. I mean, obviously we don't know each other well, but I remember you from when we were Younglings. You're still pretty." He ducked his head and blushed. "Uh, well, I mean, you're prettier than I remember, but that doesn't mean I—what I mean to say—"
Zandra stopped him before he hurt himself. "Thanks. I don't get many compliments on my appearance. I suppose I'm pretty enough for a Jedi. She blushed a little. "I don't remember much from those days, I'm afraid. Lectures and lessons from Master Yoda . . . and that's about it."
Kiran's blue eyes were kind. "I remember you because your name, Sunrider, it has a lot of rich Jedi heritage. I researched it in the Library one day because I liked it a lot and wondered where you got the name from."
His friendly remark seemed to set her back a little. She lowered her gaze. "Yes . . . well . . . it's not a name I really inherited from my parents . . . " She walked a little ways from him and knelt by the pool of water, dipping her hand in it.
"I'm sorry—" started Kiran, walking slowly toward her.
She shook her head. "You don't have to apologize, Jedi Quin." Her green eyes looked sad as she gazed at the water her hand was trailing small circles into. "Master Aayla Secura has been my mother and my sister and my friend." She looked up, a smile forming on her face again, though her eyes stayed a little sad. "She told me that when my grandmother, Vima-Da-Boda, brought me to the Temple to become a Jedi, that's when I was given the name Sunrider. She wanted me to grow into it." She sighed. "Apparently some Dark Force users have come out of my family line and she wanted me to grow up away from that stigma." She laughed and pulled her hand from the water. "But you didn't come here to talk about my deceased family, did you? Because that's an awfully boring subject to try and talk about for more than five minutes."
Kiran smiled apologetically and held out his hand. Zandra took it, and he helped her stand up, letting go when she was steady.
"Well," he shrugged, "Each of us has a dreary past. That's why we need friends. To help us get past our pasts. " His smile was so infectious. And he smiled a lot. Sunrider felt her cheeks grow warm.
"Yes. It is nice to have friends, isn't it?" she agreed.
"Want to take a little walk?" asked Kiran in answer.
"Sure," she smiled, her cheeks flushing again. They talked a little about what they had been up to in their apprenticeships with Masters Lorus and Secura. Sunrider found herself growing fonder and fonder of Kiran's voice as he talked. He told her about the last mission with his Master to Ossus, and she found herself in tears when he cried as he told her about Jhoren Lorus' death.
"I'm sorry," he apologized tearfully, wiping his cheeks. "I didn't mean to make you cry."
"It's all right," she smiled sadly. "I just feel so bad for what you went through."
"Things always get better when you find friends," he said with a small smile, his blue eyes piercing her very green ones.
"Yes. I think so too," she conceded. There was a brief moment of silence as they walked between two large ferny plants, brushing aside the feathery-like leaves.
"Well, it was nice to talk with you, Jedi Quin," she said, remembering that the only relationship they would ever have would be as Jedi comrades, no more. The thought made her sad.
"Can I see you again sometime?" asked Kiran, looking a little anxious.
She nodded. "Sure. I don't see why not."
"We could spar tomorrow. I need to train a little bit and strengthen some of my muscles from the injuries I got on Ossus," he said, a little embarrassed.
She smiled, touching his arm. "Hey, look. It's all right, what you went through. You don't have to be embarrassed. I think you're really brave."
There was a shimmer of hope in Kiran's eyes as he looked at her gratefully. "Thanks."
Master Sercura appeared almost instantaneously, brushing aside vegetation as she approached the two young Jedi's.
"Well, I hope you too enjoyed your reunion," she said calmly, taking Zandra's hand. "Come on, Padawan. Let's go eat and then you can meditate in our alcove."
"It was nice to get to know you better," called Kiran with a smile as Zandra followed her Master.
The young Padawan smiled before disappearing into the flora. "You too!"
. . .
"Master, I must speak with you. Now." Anakin's voice was low and urgent as he herded Obi-Wan into a corner without realizing it.
With a chuckle, Obi-Wan Kenobi gently pushed Anakin back a pace with one hand and smiled at him through his graying moustache. "What is it now, Anakin? We're about to convene—" he pointed at the large doors of the Council Chambers, "—and your sudden 'urgent' message, whatever it is, will have to wait."
"No. This is important. It is extremely urgent!" stressed Anakin, his whispers accompanied by jerky hand movements as he tried to keep himself inconspicuously still.
"By the Force, Anakin," sighed Obi-Wan.
"The Sith I told you about is here," Anakin hissed, bending toward Obi-Wan as he said it.
Master Kenobi froze. His blue eyes darkened. "What did you say?" he asked haltingly.
Anakin hid the smirk he felt rising up inside him. "The Sith, the one I dreamed about, he ishere. On Coruscant."
Obi-Wan almost fell over from relief. "I thought you meant he was here in the Temple! By the Force, Anakin! You can't do this kind of thing to me! I'm getting old! I nearly died of a heart attack just then!" He chuckled, and then grabbed Anakin by the shoulder. "Don't do that. Ever. Again."
The Council doors opened, the hydraulics smooth and clean sounding.
"On a different note, I finally ran into Jedi Quin," Anakin said as an afterthought as the Masters on the Council started to file into the large room.
"And what was your impression?" asked Obi-Wan hopefully.
"That something is going on. He's hiding something from us. I don't know what it is just yet, but I'm going to find out," said Anakin, a little more intensely than usual.
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "How did I sense that one coming?"
"I guess you know me a little too well, Master," smiled Anakin, following Obi-Wan to their seats around the Council circle. They sat down. Across the circle Master Shaak Ti nodded respectfully to them, a small smile on her beautiful rusty features.
Anakin leaned toward Obi-Wan as subtly as he could, using the Force to send his whisper directly into his former Master's ear. "Why are we here?"
Obi-Wan rubbed his ear ruefully, turning his head to look at his former Padawan. "We're listening to Kiran Quin's report. I thought you knew that."
Anakin shrugged. "I guess I was thinking about other things."
Obi-Wan shook his head with a smile. "Distraction can cost you much, my young friend. You need to learn to concentrate."
"Where have I heard that before?" Anakin asked with a small laugh.
The Council quieted as Master Windu walked in with Master Yoda. A smaller figure followed behind with dark black hair, his tunic parted so that half his chest was visible. His dark leather leggings shone in the lights of the Council Chambers, and his lightsaber swung gently at his hip, tapping against his thigh as he walked.
Anakin's playful manner with his old friend stopped as the young Jedi Knight walked into the room. He watched young Kiran, probed at him with the Force, and felt a surprisingly strong resistance to his probes. He also saw the intense blue eyes of the young Jedi sweep the room, looking for the one who had just touched his Force consciousness.
"Tell us your story, young Quin," said Master Windu. "There are important things happening in the wake of Chancellor Palpatine's death, and maybe the events that have happened to you will reveal more to us than we know."
The dark-haired young man nodded. "Yes, Master."
As he unfolded his tale of landing on Ossus to apprehend the rumor of a Sith threat, his voice seemed to grow husky as he recounted his Master's death at the hand of the enemy they encountered. He told of the feelings he felt, how he tried to go against the Sith, but . . .
". . . there my memory fails me. I woke up in the cockpit of a starfighter, and crash landed outside on the platform. That is all I can tell you," he ended humbly, bowing his head.
"Curious, this is, that a second Sith was there," mused Yoda. "A question it raises about how many Sith there are, that we know not."
"I think there's more to that story than you're telling us," said Anakin, leaning forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees.
All of the Masters turned to look at Anakin. Master Poof looked nervous.
"Excuse me, Master?" asked Kiran, looking shocked.
"You heard me," said Anakin, his voice even. "Why would a Sith let you go? Even less likely is the fact that you were somehow put into a starfighter to escape this Sith and to deliver a message of warning. The Sith don't like to let the Jedi know where they exist."
Kiran looked frightened, caught. "I—I don't know what you're implying, Master Skywalker."
"You don't?" asked Anakin sincerely, sounding a little confused.
"That is enough, Anakin," warned Master Windu.
"I agree with Master Skywalker," said Shaak Ti gently. "There is something missing from Jedi Quin's tale, something important. Whether he remembers it or not is the real question."
"I'm sorry, but I'll have to agree with Shaak Ti and Anakin," said Obi-Wan, sounding resigned.
"I'm not taking sides!" said Master Poof quickly.
"Silence!" shouted Master Windu. The room grew quiet at once. Mace stood up, looking around the room at the Council members.
"This boy—" he said, pointing at Kiran, "—has faced a Sith and miraculously escaped. Who are we to say that his story isn't true? He is a Jedi, we must trust him. His master's death, the appearance of a new Sith Lord, all of this must be taken into consideration and we must council together on what steps to take next." The bright lights shone down from the high ceiling of the Council chambers and reflected off of his dark forehead.
"Geez. Touchy," Force-whispered Anakin into Obi-Wan's ear.
Obi-Wan shook his head.
. . .
"The Jedi suspect that we are here, my Master," came the low voice of Darth Jadus from the new Sith Lord's desk. The Zabrak Sith paced behind the desk, sneering at the hologram, his black lip curled at his apprentice.
"I'm disappointed that you couldn't cover our trail while I laid plans for our next actions against the Jedi, Darth Jadus," he said silkily. "But no matter. Lay a false trail for the Jedi while I put the next step of the plan into place."
"What step is that, my Master?"
Darth Scion laughed mirthlessly. "Don't worry about it, my apprentice. Just draw the Jedi away, make them suspect in the opposite direction than the one we are moving in. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my Master. I understand what I must do."
"Good," said the Sith, scowling in a most terrifying way. "Now go do it!" The holoprojector went dark as he switched it off. He paced around the room, thinking about his plans to bring the Jedi to ruin, savoring every evil thought. His dark clothing swathed him in the shadows as he paced, and he looked like a ghoul haunting the room.
There was a buzz at the comm link on his desk. "Sir, a Nightsister to see you?"
"Very good. Let her in!" he commanded.
The hydraulics in the door hissed open to reveal a tall woman with pale skin. Her dark eyes were cold and hard and black triangular tattoos lined her forehead and cheeks. She stepped lithely into the room, her black leather dress and dark black hair shining under the artificial lights, and bowed to the Sith.
"My Lord, you sent for me. I followed your shuttle as quickly as I could," she said, still bowing, not looking up at Darth Scion's face. His scowl turned into a menacing grimace of satisfaction at her obeisance.
"So you came swiftly. Excellent," breathed the Sith Lord, walking up to the Nightsister. He circled around her, looking her up and down with lust, and traced a black finger up and down her arm as he circled. She shivered, but remained still.
"You may rise," he said, withdrawing from her a meter or so. "You know that my disappointment with Nalah was taken care of by my new apprentice. He is still a little clumsy, but has taken to the Dark Side with some difficulty and has been of little help to me thus far. That is why I need your help."
"My help?" she asked quietly, her eyes half-closed. "That is a great honor, My Lord."
"Yes, it is," he said silkily, with a malicious grin at her. "With the death of Lord Sidious, I must ascend the throne and take the power that he built. He had nearly completed his plans to turn the Senate and their democracy—" he spat the word out with derision, "—into an Empire, and I plan to finish what he started."
"What would you have me do?" asked the Nightsister, bowing her head slightly and lowering her eyes.
Darth Scion's black, red-striped face was covered in lustful glee. "My dear Valah, you don't have to meet your sister's fate if you succeed on the mission on which I am going to send you. I know I can trust you to fulfill what I'm about to ask, unlike her."
Valah sighed hungrily. "I will do anything you wish, My Lord. I am yours to control."
Darth Scion's black lips pulled back in a terrifying smile to reveal sharp yellow teeth.
. . .
Kiran Quin walked down the marbled hallway, his boots clack-clacking against the floor as he marched toward his alcove. His face was unreadable, but his body language showed how frustrated he felt at how there were some on the Jedi Council that didn't trust him.
He jammed the buttons at his alcove door, and the door hissed open. He stepped inside and the door hissed closed after him. Safely in private, he picked up a holoprojector off of a shelf near the door and threw it against the far wall with a cry.
"Gah!" he cried out, beginning to sob. He threw himself onto the small cot that projected from the left wall, there was nothing else in his room.
Someone comm'd in at his door.
"Come in!" he said, trying to sound like he hadn't been crying. He wiped his face with the sleeves of his tunic.
The door hissed open and Master Skywalker was standing there with Master Kenobi. They stepped inside, the door hissing closed behind them.
"I know that there's something you're hiding," started Anakin without preamble. Behind him Obi-Wan shook his head.
"You really need to work on your people skills, my friend," said Obi-Wan, placing his hand on Anakin's shoulder. He looked at Kiran kindly.
"I'm sorry about Anakin's way of handling things. Sometimes he has no tact," he explained with a smile. "We've gotten into worse communications on his account, but that's not why we're here. Despite his lack of good people skills, Anakin is very adept at using the Force and sensing things. And, I trust him. He is a good friend, and he was a good apprentice. So I'm afraid we must ask you to tell us what you did not tell the Council."
Kiran grew quiet. "I already told the Council all that I know."
"When you ran into me in the hallway this morning, I felt something weird from you in the Force. And then you just ran away. Now sit there and tell me that isn't suspicious," said Anakin, folding his arms as he looked directly at Kiran.
"Look, what I said was the truth!" protested Kiran. "After the Sith Lord and his accomplice killed Master Lorus, I ran at the Sith—"
"What was he like?" asked Obi-Wan kindly.
Kiran shuddered. "He was terrifying. His eyes spoke death and his face was black with red stripes, and there were red horns all over his head, small ones—"
"A Zabrak?" asked Anakin to Obi-Wan, who nodded, signaling for Kiran to continue.
"The irises of his eyes were blood red, with a ring of orange around the pupil. I can't forget those eyes. They haunt me in my sleep . . ." said Kiran, sounding close to tears again.
Anakin rolled his eyes, but Obi-Wan kneeled next to Kiran's cot.
"Kiran, I know you've been through a nightmare. But please, please try and remember everything you can. Especially how you made it away from the Sith and into that starfighter, all right?" Obi-Wan gently chucked Kiran under the chin and patted his shoulder. "Try and get some rest, too." He stood up and started herding Anakin out the door.
From out in the hallway Anakin called, "We're just trying to help you!"
Kiran nodded numbly, staring at the floor, pulling his legs up and wrapping his arms around them. So, it was time to try and remember the nightmare? He could do it. He would. For the Jedi.
. . .
zandelion | LogoutFanFiction | unleash your imagination
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Follow/FavStar Wars: Rise of the Empire
By: Alexandra Thyme
Instead of slicing Windu's hands off and allowing Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious to kill the black Jedi, Anakin beheads the evil Chancellor, creating a whole new AU that will leave your mind blown. Be warned, once you read, you can never go back.
Rated: Fiction K+ - English - Sci-Fi/Adventure - Anakin Skywalker - Chapters: 15 - Words: 25,250 - Reviews: 74 - Favs: 69 - Follows: 72 - Updated: Jun 15, 2012 - Published: Oct 4, 2011 - Status: Complete - id: 7437932
Prev 1. The Destruction of Darth Sidious2. Two Jedi Reconcile3. Living a Double Life4. Obi Wan Knows the Truth!5. Shaak Ti's Concern6. The Bond Between Master and Padawan7. Anakin's Stigma8. Trial of Spirit9. In the Shadow of the Sith10. Sunrider and Secura11. A New Arrival12. Forbidden Desire Awakened13. Anakin Senses the Sith Threat14. The Fruits of Love15. A New Hope on Naboo Next
The loud traffic of Coruscant was blocked by the large sound-proof, laser-proof windows installed in Senator Amidala's apartment. The quiet whirrs and clicks from R2 and the gentle humm from the air ducts were the only noises present in Padme's room as she slept. Her light breathing was barely audible.
Anakin was at the Temple tonight, overseeing his former Padawan as she took the final Trials to become a Jedi Knight. He, as always, had been anxious to leave Padme alone as the days grew closer to her delivery.
"I don't want to be at the Temple, you know I don't," he said, although Padme had not protested. She never did. But he always felt like he had to explain it to her, to make up for it somehow.
As always she had smiled that kind, beautiful smile and kissed his lips gently. "Go. But come back as soon as you can. I'll be all right." Her soft brown eyes were a little sad, but she put on a brave face so that Anakin could perform his Jedi duties.
Now, quietness pervaded the apartment.
A painful twinge in her swollen abdomen caused Padme to awake suddenly from her light sleep, and she gasped, struggling to sit up. R2 wheeled over to the bed with a curious whistle.
"I think it's time R2!" said Padme, cringing as another contraction came. The little astrodroid's dome spun around as he rolled quickly across the room, whistling and beeping in alarm.
The door slid open with smooth hiss and Threepio came waddling in. "What is it now, R2? What are you going on about?"
A few angry beeps and Threepio suddenly became alarmed as well. "Oh my goodness! Why didn't you say so in the first place? We have to contact the Medic Center immediately!"
. . .
Anakin ran from the ending ceremony as Masters from the Council all converged on Ahsoka to congratulate her on becoming a Knight. She looked around as she thanked them for their kind words, and when she couldn't find her former Master, she spied Obi-Wan and grabbed his arm.
"Where is Master Skywalker? Is he angry? Did I not do as he expected?" she asked anxiously.
Obi-Wan shook his head, patting the hand she had placed on his arm. "No, no, Ahsoka. Something very urgent has happened. He had to go right away."
"What could be that urgent?" she asked, one rust-colored brow raising.
"Oh, you'll know soon enough," said Obi-Wan, feeling a little hot under the collar.
. . .
Padme screamed, "Anakin! It hurts!" She gripped his arm as she bore down.
Anakin's face was white as he helped Padme stay sitting up. His arms held her steady as she pushed. He barked at the Med Droid who was at Padme's feet. "Isn't there anything you can give her to lessen the pain?" he demanded.
The white-plated droid shook its head. "I'm sorry," it said in a tone-less voice. "The babies are about to come, it would do no good."
"Babies?" repeated Anakin, dumbstruck. He looked confused.
"She is carrying fraternal twins, Sir," said the droid. "Here comes the first."
With a cry of pain from Padme and a great exertion, suddenly there was the cry of a newborn infant. The droid held up a naked, wet baby.
"A boy." Then it placed the newborn in the care of two other droids, who placed the baby in a plastic container and began to give him shots and clean him off. He cried in protest at the cold and the poking and prodding.
"One more, Padme! You can do it!" said Anakin, shaking as he encouraged the woman he loved.
She pushed again, her face in a painful grimace. "Aaaahh, it's too hard!" she cried out, failing to produce an infant with the first attempt.
"No! Don't give up!" said Anakin, holding her steady. "One more time! Bring this baby into the world!"
She gripped his arm tighter and bore down again, a scream escaping her clenched teeth. "Anakiiiiiiiiiiin!" she cried, and in a moment, there was another newborn cry adding noise to the first.
"A girl," said the droid emotionlessly, giving the second baby to the aiding droids so they could clean her off and give her shots.
Anakin held Padme close to his chest, kissing the top of her head, tears escaping down his cheeks. "You did it," he breathed into her brown hair. "You're so wonderful!"
"My babies," she said weakly. "Please, my babies . . ."
Anakin sprang away from the bed and picked up his twins carefully, one in each arm. They had each been swaddled in a white blanket, the little girl receiving a small pink bow on her head. He kissed each of them on the head as he carried them back to their mother. He handed them to her carefully, helping them settle in her arms.
Padme smiled down at them. "They're so tiny and beautiful!" She began to cry through her smile with happiness. "My babies. Luke and Leia."
Anakin sat by her, putting his arm around her and kissing the side of her head. "You did so great, Padme. Our children are perfect. You are perfect. This is the happiest day of my entire life!"
She smiled up at him. "I love you, Ani."
He closed his eyes, pulling his little family close. "I love you, too."
. . .
Anakin's eyes were drooping as the Council sat together. Obi-Wan prodded him with the Force, giving him a small nudge in the side. Anakin sat up, looking around with a dazed look.
"You. Meet me after," whispered Obi-Wan.
When the meeting adjourned, Obi-Wan took Anakin by the arm and steered him away from everyone else, down the marbled hallway among the giant pillars.
"It's been three days you've shown up like this, Anakin!" warned Obi-Wan. "I can't keep making excuses for you! Sooner or later, your little charade will be found out!"
Anakin nodded his head, stretching a little. "I know, Master. I'm sorry. The twins keep us busy. They cry a lot and need to be fed a lot and I stay awake while Padme sleeps with one of them and take care of the other one, and then I stay awake some more while Padme sleeps with the other one while I take care of the first and it's just a nightmare . . ." He rubbed his face with a gloved hand.
"Look," said Obi-Wan kindly, half a smile underneath his graying moustache. "I came up with a plan. It may not be very good, but it's better than nothing."
. . .
"We're going to Naboo?" asked Padme, looking from Obi-Wan to Anakin as they stood in her living area.
"It was Obi-Wan's idea, not mine," said Anakin when he saw her worried look. She smiled.
"Don't blame Master Kenobi, Ani!" she chided. "I think it's a good idea. At least, we can have some time to ourselves and no one will know where we are for a little while. By then, we can make another plan and leave Naboo for somewhere else."
Obi-Wan nodded, "And the plus side to this is that if I convince the Council to send Anakin away on a mission at the exact time you go home to Naboo, Senator, well, they won't suspect for a very long time what is happening."
Padme looked hopefully at Anakin with her chocolate brown eyes. "It's the perfect plan, Ani. We can raise our children, away from the eyes of the Senate and the Jedi Council. You could train them, if they are Force-sensitive. We could go away for the rest of our lives, and no one would be the wiser."
"It does seem perfect," mused Anakin, rubbing his chin. He stepped down into the lowered area of the living room and walked over to the couch, sitting down next to his wife. "If I can have the rest of my life with you, then I willingly walk away from being a Jedi. I will be disgraced if they find me out."
Her eyes looked troubled. "Are you sure you're willing to do that?"
Anakin smiled. "For you, I would do anything, milady."
. . .
Everything was ready. The silver Naboo transport ship gleamed in the suns of Coruscant as it sat on the landing deck. Things were packed away and stowed on board the transport ship, the twins were sleeping in their mother's arms as she rested on board, and Anakin was preparing the last of the systems updates to the onboard computer in the piloting room.
As he stood over the motherboard, flipping switches and pressing buttons that instantly lit up, Obi-Wan came into the small pilot area, sitting in the passenger seat with a slight groan.
"Oh dear, I'm getting old. Do I feel a misplaced spring in the back of this chair?" he moved around uncomfortably before scooting to the edge of the chair and looking at Anakin, whose hands were moving quickly around the 'board.
Anakin didn't look up as he finished the programming, lights flashing across his face. "Perhaps, master. This ship is a slightly older model."
"Well that's for certain. This is not comfortable to sit in at all."
Anakin chuckled, finally looking at his former master. "Well, you don't have to sit there, you know."
Obi-Wan's moustache twitched as he smiled. "Of course I do. I'm your co-pilot, after all. I can't exactly be sitting in the back near the engine, can I?"
"You could . . ." said Anakin, grinning, and Obi-Wan just shook his head ruefully.
The onboard comm light came on and Padme's voice came through the comm system. "Ani, love, could you come help me put the twins down before we take off?"
Anakin pressed the button, a gentle smile on his face. "Of course, be there in a minute." He made his way out of the pilot room and down into the belly of the ship where Padme and the twins were staying in a large room typically used for storage.
The door hissed open and Anakin stepped in the room to see Padme patiently sitting on the cot that jutted out from the wall. He walked over to her and kissed the top of her head before leaning over to take his son out of Padme's arms.
"Hello, Luke," he said warmly, giving the baby boy a kiss on the tiny brown curl that grew from his head.
Padme walked over to where a bassinet hung out from the wall and laid Leia in it, kissing her baby girl's face before standing up and stretching.
"They don't weigh much, but they sure do feel like it after a while," she said with a gentle mother's smile on her face, gazing at Leia's peaceful face. Anakin smiled and kissed her cheek before laying Luke in his bassinet next to Leia's. Then he turned and gathered his wife into his arms, slowly swaying back and forth as he held her. She relaxed against him, breathing into his robes.
"I can't believe we're finally going to be free to live as a family," sighed Padme, giving Anakin a squeeze. He smiled into her hair, stroking it.
"Me too."
Obi-Wan's voice came over the comm system, "Anakin, I think we should get going. The Jedi Council will want a report within the week and I need to be able to take this ship to Geonosis."
Anakin leaned over and pressed the button on the wall, "All right, Master, all right." He kissed Padme softly on the lips and then smiled at her. "Well, this is it. Time to leave our lives behind on Coruscant. Are you ready to raise our children on Naboo?"
Padme laughed for joy. "Finally!" She hugged him close once more. "Finally."
. . .
Sunrider flipped backwards, landing in a crouch on the smooth marble of the training room, as Kiran Quin's blue blade barely missed her neck.
"Are you taking this seriously?" asked Kiran, lowering his blade. The sunlight streamed in through the windows, giving his dark-black hair a bluish hue. "That was a dangerous move! I could've taken your head!"
She gave him a sly smile. "Ah, but you didn't." She raised her green blade up again, teasing him. "Come on, I didn't even get singed."
Kiran sighed, brushing his hair from his eyes. "Well, all right."
Zandra ran at him, and at the last minute, instead of lunging at him with her blade, she spun around him. He turned fluidly, following her well, and their blades clashed together with the crackle of electromagnetic static.
They pushed against each other, the blades hissing and crackling in protest.
"You know, in real battle, we wouldn't be holding against our enemy like this. All it takes is a split-second for them to swing 'round and take off a limb," said Kiran as he looked at her through the brightness of the crossed blades.
"But you're not my enemy," laughed Zandra, dancing back.
"Sunrider!" came Master Secura's voice, as the blue Twi'lek stood in the doorway. She looked disapprovingly at Kiran before looking to her Padawan. "You're finished sparring with Young Quin for the day. Come."
The hiss of retracting lightsaber blades was doubled as both of the young Jedi's-to-be deactivated their powerful blades. Sunrider hooked hers to her belt, and with an apologetic backwards glance to Quin, ran towards her master.
In the hallway, Secura grabbed Sunrider by the arm and half-dragged her to their small room, punching in the security code so the door slid open smoothly. Once inside their alcove, door securely shut and locked, Aayla fixed her Padawan with a warning look.
"I do not want you sparring or training with that young man, Sunrider. Do you understand?"
Zandra's face twisted into disbelief. "Are you joking, Master? Why? What's wrong?"
Secura tried to keep her annoyance in check. "Are you questioning my judgment, Padawan? I said I don't want you interacting with him. There is a very inappropriate amount of playing going on between the two of you, and I will not stand for it. It is not the way of a Jedi."
"Playing? What—We don't play, Master. We fight, we train, we spar, but we don't play. I know that my interactions are only to be professional and I—"
"And yet you spend a lot of time with him!" accused Aayla, looking her Padawan square in the eye. "Do you think I don't keep my eye on you? I've seen you together, doing nothing more than idly sitting in the Library or in the Room of a Thousand Waterfalls talking together about things that aren't for Jedi to think or talk about?"
Zandra Sunrider blushed, ducking her head. "Our conversations have been purely intellectual, Master."
"Well, you are finished having them, do you understand me?" said Secura, placing her hand gently on Sunrider's shoulder.
Sunrider looked up at her Master sadly, but nodded. "I understand, Master. I'll do as you wish."
. . .
The hologram on the desk bowed low to the Sith Lord. "My Master, I have found a weakness in the Jedi Temple."
The Dark Zabrak let an evil smile creep over his black and red features as he stared at the static of the blue hologram. "Excellent. And what of Jedi Master Skywalker? Will he be easy to locate and destroy once we overcome the other members of the Council?"
The hologram grew silent, not daring to look up at the Dark Lord.
"He . . . is gone, my Master," said Darth Jadus nervously.
Darth Scion slammed his black and red hand on the desk, making the holoprojector jump, sending the hologram sputtering into static for a moment.
"You had better find him, my apprentice," hissed Darth Scion, glaring at the hologram. "Or I may have to lose my temper."
"I understand, my Master. I will find Jedi Skywalker and destroy him."
"You had better!" shouted the Zabrak Sith, pointing menacingly at the hologram. "Unless we destroy all the Jedi, our plan will fail!"
. . .
"We've docked, Padme. I'll come down in a minute to help you with the twins," said Anakin into the comm system. Obi-Wan grasped his arm, looking at his face intently.
"Please don't move your family until you hear word from me, Anakin," said Obi-Wan earnestly, his eyes searching Anakin's face. Anakin nodded and gave his old master a small smile.
"Of course, Master. We'll stay on Naboo. Besides," he chuckled, pressing a few buttons and flicking a couple switches before standing up to stretch, "I don't think Padme will ever want to leave this place. It's certainly one of the most beautiful places in the galaxy."
Obi-Wan chuckled. "That it is, my young friend. You're very lucky. I almost envy you, you know. I have to go to Geonosis, and that isn't a very pretty planet, to be sure."
Anakin gave his friend a wry smile. "Yes, but who volunteered to go there and see what information he could dig up, eh?"
"Yes yes," smiled Obi-Wan, winking at Anakin. "I know what you're getting at, and I do agree with you."
Anakin took Obi-Wan's hand and shook it, patting his old master on the shoulder. "I'll see you again, Obi-Wan. Thank you, for helping us."
Obi-Wan stood and hugged his once-Padawan. "You deserve happiness, my friend. I look upon you as my brother, and know I'll always be there for you if you need me."
Anakin gave Obi-Wan a slight squeeze. "Thank you."
"Now, uh," stammered Obi-Wan with a smile, letting Anakin go. "You'd better unload quickly and get your little family settled."
. . .
Padme looked around the large living room and smiled. Elegant paintings hung on the walls, and a very ornate rug sat comfortably in the middle of the room, covering the stone marble and giving it a warm look. Plush armchairs and couches were placed at intervals throughout the room. Anakin whistled as he walked through the doorway, cradling Luke in his left arm.
"Wow. This is quite a place, Padme."
She smiled at him, her eyes bright with joy. "Do you like it? They give retired politicians housing free the rest of their lives on Naboo. Makes it very convenient for us, doesn't it?"
He winked at her. "Well I don't don't like it."
She laughed. "That's good enough for me."
Leia stirred in Padme's arms and gave a tiny whimper. Padme smiled down at her daughter and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"I'm so glad that we're all together, all safe." She looked up at Anakin, who was using the Force to bring in their suitcases. "It's almost as if this is too good to be true."
Anakin let the things rest on the marble floor and smiled at her. "Don't say that. We're home free. We don't have anyone to answer to anymore, not the Senate, not the Jedi Council, not anyone."
Padme sat in an armchair with Leia, stroking her daughter's hair absentmindedly as she thought. Anakin walked up to her, brushing a strand of curly hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear. The rest of it was pulled back in a loose pony tail. Anakin kissed her forehead.
"Why don't we set up the twins' room first and lie them down. Then we can stand out on the balcony and stare out at the lake, like the first time we kissed," Anakin said gently.
Padme looked up, into his blue eyes and smiled. "I would love that."
Anakin smiled like a little boy who had gotten a new set of power converters. "Then let's go!" he said eagerly, helping her up, and they walked together through the house to find which room they would use for Luke and Leia.
. . .