Author's Notes: After being distracted by House MD (in general) and Robert Sean Leonard (in specific) over the last few weeks, I've finally completed another segment in Out of the Ruins. Oh joy, just what I need, another fandom (rolls eyes). Regardless, this chapter never would have been completed, if not for YouTube. I didn't go into a great deal of detail, with regards to the Duel of the Fates, because, let's face it, we've all seen it. Even so, I like to be as accurate as possible when it comes to the details. At the very least, make sure I get things in the right order. This chapter also features a hint as to why Qui-Gon has been behaving as he has. Thanks to all for their patience. . .I've had a seriously bad case of writer's block over the last few months, which has affected all of my stories, not just this one. I'm going to be evil and conclude this on something of a cliffhanger. Hope y'all enjoy this offering (though I'll tell you right now, my battles scenes are probably one of my weakest points as a writer).
Chapter Fourteen
The Battle is Joined
He was behaving like a youngling. . .no, like a crècheling. . .and even worse, he knew it. He hadn't needed Yoda, Mace, or even worse, Master Dooku to tell him that. . .which, of course, didn't stop any of them from doing just that. He couldn't regret his attempts to secure Anakin's future in the Order, but he could regret the hurt he caused to other people in those attempts. . .especially Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon Jinn had remonstrated with both Mace and Yoda, for the farce of their refusal to train Anakin, but Mace fired back that they were following the will of the Force, and because they never thought he would actually set Obi-Wan aside. And Mace's statement, that they were following the will of the Force, rather than the Code, wrong-footed him badly.
As had Master Dooku's assertion that he was jealous of the mysterious newcomers from another galaxy. It was true, of course. . .he had spent his entire adult life, listening to the Force, and trying to get the Council to do the same. . .and these two upstarts, these children of a Sith, did in a week what he had failed to do in forty years? And that wasn't taking into account the tentative friendship that was springing up between his padawan and the younger sister, Knight Solo. . .or, for that matter, her success in explaining to Obi-Wan why Anakin had to be trained, and to Anakin why Obi-Wan was so distant.
Obi-Wan wasn't just distant to Anakin, though he was more relaxed now with the child than he was. . .however, his shielding remained too strong for Qui-Gon to breach. The boy wasn't pouting or sulking. . .instead, he was behaving like the perfect Padawan. But his heart wasn't in it. . .nor did his smile reach his eyes. Qui-Gon hurt his padawan deeply. . .and now he had no idea how to make things right. Obi-Wan was refusing to acknowledge there was a problem or how deeply Qui-Gon's actions in Council wounded him. However, Qui-Gon couldn't blame him for that, either. Much as he hated to admit it, Knight Solo's explanation to Anakin was painfully accurate. Why would Obi-Wan let down his guard, after his legitimate concerns were dismissed the first time?
And his concerns were legitimate. Anakin had a great deal of baggage as a former slave. Qui-Gon still didn't believe that Anakin was dangerous, but he also couldn't deny that Obi-Wan had every right to worry. It was as the brother said. . .given that, it was little wonder that Obi-Wan enjoyed the young Knight's company. And that brought Qui-Gon to Master Thane Solo, who continued to eye him warily. It was Qui-Gon's own fault, of course…the younger Master tried to smooth things over, for Obi-Wan and Anakin's sakes, if nothing else, but at that time, Qui-Gon could only see the man who took the training of the Chosen One away from him.
And that was unworthy of him as well. He should be pleased that Anakin was being trained, and he was. . .but why did it have to be the son of a Sith? Oh, he made the mistake of mentioning that to Master Dooku. . .and his former Master quite rightly reprimanded him, reminding him that those children of the Sith suffered greatly at their father's hands. Further, Thane Solo was better able to guide Anakin than anyone else. . . he was, if memory served, a little older than Anakin at the time of his father's second Fall. Thus, he knew what to look for (but so did Qui-Gon). And, as the Council pointed out, he already raised one padawan during a war that tore apart their galaxy. Thane Solo was a sensible choice for Anakin. . .he was also twenty-five standard years younger than Qui-Gon and thus, better able to keep up with an energetic nine-year-old boy.
It was hurt pride, and nothing else. . .he was supposed to be above such things. And Tahl especially would have been furious with the way he had been acting over the last standard week. He knew this, and tried to release his irritation and anger into the Force. However, the peace he sought was eluding him. The Master remembered the beginning of this mission, when the diplomatic talks ended before they began, and Obi-Wan had a bad feeling. He was starting to understand that bad feeling, especially as they neared Naboo. Something would happen there. Something important. . .and not just the revelation that young handmaiden Padme was actually Queen Amidala.
The conversation between his padawan and the young Knight was slowing, and a glance over his shoulder told him Knight Solo was on the verge of falling asleep. Her brother pushed off the wall and picked up the sleeping Anakin from her lap. Carefully balancing the child on his hip, he said softly, "Take her shoulders and ease her down, Padawan Kenobi. I'm more surprised that it's taken this long than the fact that she did fall asleep. The week before we left our. . .galaxy, she received very little sleep. We all did. There. Can you cov. . .oh, thank you. I appreciate that, and I know she will too."
Obi-Wan straightened from covering the now-asleep Knight and smiled faintly as he turned to face the strange Master. His Obi-Wan was, as ever, thorough. . .not only easing the Knight onto the bench, but moving her legs so that she was lying completely supine. Thane Solo said softly, "She'll be fine for now. We don't have to worry about nightmares for about an hour, and I can wake her up before things get that far." He reached down and stroked a lock of hair back behind her ear. Qui-Gon almost shuddered, remembering what Senator Palpatine told him. . .things often were not what they seemed.
Obi-Wan looked away, his expression more than a bit uncomfortable, but he only asked, "She's prone to nightmares, then?" Solo straightened up, carefully adjusting Anakin in his arms once more, and nodded soberly. Obi-Wan murmured, "I am sorry to hear that. Would you like to put Anakin to bed for you? You look tired as well." This time, Solo shook his head, but he was smiling at Qui-Gon's padawan almost affectionately. Not for the first time, Qui-Gon's instincts warned him that there was more to this boy than met the eye, and he wondered if the Council was aware of that 'something more.'
"No, thank you, Padawan Kenobi, but I do appreciate your consideration. And yes, Merit is prone to nightmares. Our entire family is prone to nightmares and to visions. The visions, especially the Force-visions, tend to be stronger in Merit. Our great-grandfather was one of the most powerful Force-users in the known galaxy. He was given to Visions and nightmares, too. . .and that's something Merit has inherited from him, along with her abilities as a pilot. On the other hand, she may have inherited that from our grandfather, who was a damn good pilot in his own right, even without the Force," Solo replied.
"Do your sister's Visions often come true?" Obi-Wan questioned, even as Qui-Gon winced. He didn't put much stock in Visions or premonitions of the future. . .they had a tendency to fall into the 'self-fulfilling prophecy' category. It was why he warned his padawan to focus on the present, rather than the possibilities of the future. One took care of the future by taking care of the present. However, it seemed this other galaxy differed from their own yet again, which was really no surprise.
"That was how we knew to come here. Merit had a vision of the Sith's emergence here, and then it was just a matter of finding transportation. I know Merit has told you that she's more comfortable with the Unifying Force, but has had to use the Living Force, due to our situation. But she receives those Force-visions for a reason, and more often than not, we prevent a bad situation from becoming even worse because of her Visions. Even so, I hate the toll it takes on her. But now I'm complaining, and I do apologize for that. Come along, Padawan Kenobi, while I put Anakin to bed, and I'll tell you what I can of our galaxy," Solo replied. Obi-Wan assented and followed Solo from the cabin, leaving Qui-Gon to ponder what he learned in the last few minutes.
SWSWSWSWSWSWSWSW
Across the galaxy, a young man (really, forty-one wasn't old at all) sat in a bar off the main thoroughfare. It wasn't the usual sort of place where he enjoyed spending time, especially not after the last twenty-three years. However, this was necessary, not only to his business, but to the continuation of the galaxy. Twenty-three years had passed since his departure from the Jedi, but Xanatos Verras' strength in the Force hadn't diminished at all. Indeed, there were times when he swore he was stronger now than when he was at the Temple where he spent much of his early life.
He, like many Force-sensitives outside Coruscant, sensed the immense disturbance in the Force nearly a standard week earlier, the second one within the last six months. His contacts within the Temple told him more recently that two strange young Jedi literally dropped out of mid-air and landed in one of the pools in the Hall of a Thousand Fountains. They were a brother and sister, Master and Knight, supposedly from another galaxy, but two beings appearing out of thin air, supposedly from a ship that was breaking up, did not cause such a stir in the Force. Did he think they were Sith (who were supposedly extinct) or even Dark Jedi? No. The disturbance in the Force didn't feel that way. Did he want to know whom they were and what it meant? Absolutely.
His companion sat down across from him, murmuring, "I apologize for my tardiness. I needed to settle my padawan. She's somewhat. . .overly-excited. Has been ever since we left her home planet." Xanatos allowed himself a small smile. . .yes, he could understand that. . .and then the man continued, "You wanted to know what I knew about the recent. . .anomalies. . .within the Force. Before I answer your question, I have one of my own. How did you know to contact me? My most recent home away from home was hardly on the beaten track, and yet as soon as we arrived here, you contacted me. Why? What did you know?" That was actually more than one, but Xanatos wouldn't call him on it.
"I have my share of contacts on your padawan's home world, and it was they who told me. Just as they told me that your current padawan is a little older than the Council believes is wise. Besides, I haven't felt anything like that in some time," Xanatos replied smoothly. He added a bit wryly, more than a little surprised, "And you still haven't asked me why I'm not dead, much less why I'm here. Nearly everyone else thinks I died several years ago in an acid pool. As if I would ever take my own life." This time, he rolled his eyes. Evidently, Jinn didn't know him nearly as well as he thought he did.
"Would you believe me if I said someone told me that you were still alive?" the Jedi Knight asked ruefully. Xanatos thought about that for a minute, then slowly shook his head. The Knight continued, "Well, it was worth a try. It's true, though, and it's why we're here today. I can't tell you how they knew. . .but this is our story. About six months ago, my padawan and I were under attack on her home planet, when we received some very unexpected assistance from a Jedi Master and his young padawan. . .an eleven year old girl who is also his daughter. The Master's name is Aidan Kenobi, and his daughter is Amidala Kenobi. . . the grandson and great-granddaughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Master Kenobi and Padawan Amidala are from the future."
Ah. The future part didn't faze him, but the names of those Jedi from the future did. Obi-Wan Kenobi. . .his grandson and great-daughter had traveled back in time, and saved this Knight and his unofficial padawan. He chose not to ask yet how they came to be. Ky Narec continued, "They were two out of four Jedi sent from the future, approximately seven or eight decades in the future. Neither Aidan nor Ami are entirely sure exactly how far, as the Jedi Purges. . .yes, plural. . .have made time-keeping very hard. The other two Jedi were Jedi Master Thane Solo and his former padawan and sister, Knight Merit Solo. Merit Solo is twenty-five standard years old, and her brother is. . .seven or eight years older than she is. They were the last four Jedi in their time period."
Xanatos released a breath. The last four Jedi in the galaxy of this future were the grandson and great-granddaughter of a young man whom he tormented because Qui-Gon Jinn chose (somewhat against his will) to take him as padawan, along with two other individuals. This was getting more and more intriguing by the moment. Ky Narec continued, "There were two Jedi Purges. The first one, from what Aidan and Ami told me, will be in about fifteen years, unless those four can change things. My padawan, Asajj, thinks that while they are the catalyst for the change, the rest of us are. . .we have to save ourselves, rather than relying on two Masters, a Knight, and a Padawan."
"Quite," Xanatos agreed, and hoped he would have the chance to meet young Asajj Ventress before they left the planet. He found Rattarak a fascinating planet, and the opportunity to speak to someone from that world was one he would take. He was a businessman, after all. However, that could wait. He asked instead, "Tell me more, Master Narec. I'm curious to know what they were like. . .yes, yes, I know they're from the future, and they wish to stop the falls of the Jedi and the Republic, but what are they like? Do they understand the concept of enjoying themselves?" That could go either way. After all, Aidan Kenobi was a father.
"Oh yes. . .Asajj and Ami found several ways to amuse themselves and each other, over and above their sparring matches. They are not like us," the Jedi observed. Xanatos didn't smile, tempted as he was. The truth was, he wasn't much like the Jedi, especially not the soon-to-be-knighted Obi-Wan Kenobi. He had more in common with Narec's padawan than anyone in the Order. That didn't mean he would stand aside and allow them to perish. He was distracted from this point when Narec asked, "Why are you so curious about them? Oh, I understand that you like to know what's happening in the galaxy, for the sake of Telos and your business, but there's more to your questions."
Xanatos grimaced. Unfortunately, the Jedi was quite right. On the night of the singularity, when the Force seemed to explode and implode at the same time, he had a painfully real dream. That was frightening enough, because he never remembered his dreams. But it was the content that really frightened him. He saw a pretty, dark-haired young woman standing near a window, overlooking the Coruscant skyline. She was perhaps fifteen standard years younger than himself and heavy with child. . .soon to deliver. He saw himself, around the same age he was now, wrap his arms around the young woman, drawing her to rest against his chest. She wasn't any of his paramours, and that was probably what scared him most of all.
He replied at last, "I think I saw the young woman who traveled with Aidan Kenobi and his daughter into our time, in a dream I had on the same night we all felt the disturbance in the Force." Narec nodded thoughtfully. Xanatos thought briefly about telling his companion that Little Xanatos was very happy with that dream, but he wasn't sure how the other man would take the revelation that pregnant women were incredibly. . .appealing. Xanatos wasn't sure if he was ready for that. It was hard enough for a man to admit. . .much less try to explain it to a man who had no hope of understanding.
"Ami was kind enough to share a holopic of the Solo brother and sister before she and her father departed, and Asajj sketched her. Is this the young lady you saw in your dream?" Ky Narec asked, withdrawing a flimsiplast and handing it to Xanatos. The Telosian accepted the item and his breath caught in his throat. Until that moment, he hadn't really believed that he was seeing anything other than a very pregnant, very appealing young woman who found her way into his subconscious. But there, drawn with what was likely a piece of coal, was the young girl he saw in his dream. Xanatos closed his eyes. Now, the question became, what did he do with this knowledge?
To make that decision, he needed still more information. After a moment, he opened his eyes and said quietly but firmly, "Tell me everything." Ky Narec studied him for a few moments, his dark eyes intent on unraveling the enigma that was Xanatos, and not for the first time, Xanatos found himself respecting this quiet, dark-haired knight. He trusted him enough to agree to a meeting with a dead man, but not enough to simply answer that question. Xanatos added softly, "Please. If I wanted to take down the Jedi Order, I would have done it a long time ago, and in a much more elegant manner than that sloppy attempt when Kenobi was still a teenager. I'm no longer a Jedi, but I have no desire to see them wiped out. Please. Tell me everything that you know."
And he did.
SWSWSWSWSWSWSWSW
Well. Wasn't this interesting?
Thane and Merit Solo stood back a good distance from the other members of their party, out of the line of sight of the Gungans. They just met their first Gungan on the way to Naboo, there was no way Thane or his sister would kneel to them. They had enough of that poodoo in their own time. He would bow his head, to indicate respect, but he would be submissive to no one and nothing, save the Force itself. Besides, this was between the Naboo and the Gungans. . .had nothing to do with Thane or his sister. And he wanted to go over the queen's plan in his mind again.
Like the rest of the Jedi, Thane was thoroughly not surprised when Padme revealed herself to be the queen. . .on the other hand, he did have an advantage that they didn't have, coming from the future as he did. He knew Anakin was among the few surprised by the revelation, and the child was just a little bit hurt. Once more, Thane's sister came to the rescue, settling her hands on Anakin's shoulders and gently squeezing. It was both a warning and a comfort. If what Thane felt over his bond with Anakin was any indication, it worked both ways as well.
Right now, Anakin sat at Thane's feet, while Merit leaned against a tree, looking around with interest. Thane wouldn't swear to anything, but he had a sense that Anakin wasn't looking around because of sheer sensory overload. It fit. . .the child spent his entire life on a desert planet, and the last week or so he spent on Coruscant didn't really count. How else would a child raised on a desert planet react to a world like Naboo, with its green fields and waterfalls, and sheer over-abundance of greenery? He at least saw Naboo when some of its beauty remained, even if it was dying. Neither Anakin nor Merit had ever seen the planet before, though Merit lived most of her life on planets with oceans. Unfortunately, thanks to the ever-present looming threat of their father, she spent most of her time underground when they weren't on missions.
"It really is pretty," Merit observed now, "Naboo, I mean." Thane simply nodded and his sister looked up at him, asking softly, "Is everything all right? You've been very quiet ever since the handmaiden revealed herself as the queen. . .something we guessed." Something they knew, but he silently thanked his sister for not telling Anakin. He had a sneaking suspicion that his new padawan wouldn't take kindly to someone knowing such a secret and not telling him. Anakin was a very curious little boy, even more so than most nine year olds. More than that, he already was extremely infatuated with Padme.
"I'm just thinking through all the scenarios. Nute Gunray won't go quietly. You know this," Thane observed and Merit inclined her head in agreement. Their father had scores of minions just like Gunray. And when Thane was being truly honest with himself, he acknowledged he commanded people just like Gunray in the past. Wasn't Andriu just a human version of Nute Gunray, even before Cadeus got his claws into him? He shuddered as an image of Merit's limp, battered body passed through his mind. He glanced at his sister, needing the reassurance that she was safe. . .well, as safe as any of them could be. Some of his worry must have leaked over the bond, subdued as it was, for Merit smiled reassuringly, but the knot in his chest didn't ease.
He smiled anyhow, wanting her to stay focused on the mission, rather than on taking care of him. When she turned her attention back to Anakin, Thane closed his eyes. Did he ever tell Ral 'thank you' for the Tatooine rescue? He never told the Tusken Raiders. . .he was unconscious when they left the planet, and Cadeus wiped out that tribe shortly after the rescue. History had a way of repeating itself, especially in the Skywalker family. Although, to be fair, Anakin Skywalker wiped out a tribe of Tusken Raiders because they captured and tortured his mother, causing her death. Jacen Solo wiped out a tribe of Tusken Raiders because they helped to free Solo's children. There was a lesson in there somewhere, but damned if Thane could figure out what it was.
Focus, Thane. Even without his eyes open, he knew that his sister was watching him with concern. Evidently, the bond wasn't muted enough. . .there was a trace of irritation, but far stronger was the concern, and the wish to comfort. She wasn't entirely sure what was troubling him so deeply, but it was enough for her that he was troubled. This time, he did open his eyes, to see her smiling at him almost sadly. Maybe she saw more than he thought. Then Anakin challenged her to show him something that he would be taught as her brother's padawan. Merit responded with one of her most conniving grins (uh-oh), and reached for one of the tree branches. She neatly swung herself up onto the branch and grinned down at Anakin.
He didn't disappoint, practically squealing, "Oh, that's wizard, Merit! And you'll teach me to do that?" She dove from the branch, head first, tucked her body into a tight ball, and went into a neat forward roll. Thane rolled his eyes. Showoff! However, Merit just grinned and nodded at Anakin as he plopped himself in her lap once more. Neither sibling, however, were prepared for Anakin's next question as he asked almost worriedly, nodding to her tunic, "How did you get that scar, Merit?" Thane saw his sister tighten her arms around Anakin almost convulsively and her face pale. To her credit, she didn't ask which scar or otherwise stall him.
Instead, she replied in a remarkably steady voice, "A few years ago, Thane and I were on a mission to a desert planet, thanks to faulty intelligence." Well, that was one way to put it! However, Thane kept that to himself, especially after Merit flashed him an especially irritated glance. He held up his hands in the classic 'surrender' gesture, and she continued, "We were captured and held in the remains of a fortress. We were both tortured and beaten. . .and that's how I got that scar. One of our captors used a lightsaber on me during that session, trying to force Thane to talk." Anakin looked wildly from Merit to Thane and back again. Then he turned in Merit's embrace, throwing both arms around her neck and burying his face against her dark hair.
"They shouldn't have done that! And when I get big enough, no one will ever be able to hurt you, or Master Thane, or my mom again!" the little boy practically snarled. Thane's blood ran cold at the declaration. Is this how it would start this time? Were they just causing more problems? However, it seemed the Force was guiding his sister today, because she adjusted her own hold on Anakin, so that his face rested against her neck instead of in her hair.
"Oh, Anakin. . .listen to me, sweeting. You won't always be a little boy. You're right about that. But there will be times when you can't protect me, or Thane, or your mom. There will be times when it'll be hard for you to protect yourself. That's just a fact of the universe. The important thing is, Thane and I are here now, and we're more or less whole. It was scary for a while. . .our friends weren't sure either of us would survive, but we did. We survived and we healed, and we went back into the fight. It speaks well of you that you want to protect others, but even when you're a grown man, you won't always be able to protect those you love. The hardest lesson for anyone to learn is that one, but when you're a Jedi, it's even harder," Merit replied.
Anakin pulled back to look at her, and Merit wiped away his tears with her thumbs, explaining, "We're Jedi, and we have immense power. Not everyone is as powerful as you, Anakin, but we still have more power than people like our grandfather, who wasn't Force-sensitive. And something that my grandparents always taught us was, with great power comes great responsibility. Probably the biggest cliché there is, but that doesn't make it any less true. We have the responsibility to use our power wisely. But with great power also comes the potential for hubris, the danger of thinking we're better than we are. My grandfather, as I said, wasn't Force-sensitive. . . but he could be just as formidable and just as dangerous as my grandmother and her twin brother."
"Kinda like how you're better at flying than Obi-Wan, but he's better at fighting than you are?" Anakin questioned and Merit turned to Thane, raising a brow questioningly. This child version of their great-grandfather explained, "I heard Miss Bant talking about ways to improve your. . .footwork? And how that would help the next time you sparred or got into a lightsaber duel. And I heard Master Mace saying that Merit can out-fly most Jedi, with the craziest stunts, without terrifying or making her passengers feel sick. Are you a really good pilot, Merit?"
"She's one of the best I've ever seen, Ani, and that includes our grandfather. He taught her to fly, even without the assistance of the Force. Our exercises with that only lasted about an hour or so, because it involved having the Force blocked from us. . .and that's extremely painful," Thane replied. He was on the verge of saying more, but it was then that the war council broke up. The young Jedi Master made eye contact with Captain Panaka, who agreed to speak with them and inform them of the plan. Thane released a deep breath, and then glanced at his new padawan and his younger sister as the head of Naboo's security approached. He was responsible for their lives. While Thane drew breath, no one would ever hurt them again.
SWSWSWSWSWSWSWSW
After that, things happened very quickly. The battle to retake Naboo began less than an hour later, with a small force infiltrating Theed. . .a force consisting of the young queen, her handmaidens and security force, and the Jedi. Relations between Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master remained distant. . .the senior padawan continued to behave as a padawan should, but both master and padawan were afraid to use the bond. It was clear that Master Qui-Gon disapproved of his padawan's growing friendship with the unusual young Knight accompanying him, further straining their already tense relationship. They both knew that they would have to deal with this sooner or later, but right now, the mission was the most important thing. Perhaps after the Naboo had their planet back, they could sort through their issues.
Obi-Wan found it more than a little strange when Thane Solo actually instructed his unofficial padawan to find a place in one of the ships and stay there. He could understand a safe place, but why be so specific? And why a ship, of all things? That made no sense. However, it wasn't his place to question the decision. . .even if the Master's younger sister rolled her eyes in sympathy. It seemed Knight Solo was as confused by this as he was, going so far as to drop back to walk with him after Anakin scrambled into one of the ships within the hangar.
She murmured as they left the hangar behind, trailing at the back of the entourage, "Mind if I stay with you? I have a feeling the Jedi'll be separating within the next few minutes." Separating? Why? Knight Solo must have read that question in his eyes, for she said with a faint shrug, "Thane was asking Captain Panaka about the layout of the palace. He has a plan, but he hasn't shared it with me. . .something that worries me to no end." Oh? She added, "The last time we went into a mission without him telling me the plan, we both almost died. For obvious reasons, I'd just as soon not repeat that experience." Ahh. That, he understood.
"I see. And of course you may remain here. You know I'm growing to enjoy our conversations. . .to say nothing of our sparring," Obi-Wan replied. She blushed and ducked her head. The young Knight admitted early on that she knew her footwork left a great deal to be desired. . .and watching Obi-Wan spar with other padawans of their age group left her terribly embarrassed by her own lack. He added gently, "You have already made great improvement, just in the few days since our first spar. You learn very quickly, Knight Solo."
"People who don't learn, change, and adapt in our. . .galaxy. . .end up dying, Obi-Wan. We learned that the hard way, at a very young age. And what have I told you about calling me 'Knight Solo.' My name is 'Merit,' remember?" she reminded him. He looked away briefly, and the young woman added, "I'm a few standard months younger than you are, it's absolutely ridiculous for you to call me 'Knight Solo,' when we're this close in age! I've given you permission. . . more than once. . .to call me 'Merit,' so please do it!" He inclined his head, though he made no promises. He was well aware that she was uncomfortable with the use of her rank, but this was how he was raised. She sighed, evidently realizing this, and explained, "Like I said, we've had to learn quickly. Darth Cadeus wasn't real interested in letting us grow up at a normal rate."
There was the slightest touch of bitterness in her voice, but Obi-Wan chose not to call her on it. Master Windu explained that things in the Solos' galaxy was so overwhelmingly different, including the no attachment rule. . .something at which Obi-Wan guessed, but he was continuously surprised when he received a reminder of just how different things were for the brother and sister team. However, he couldn't resist asking the question, "What is normal, or what passes for normal in your galaxy, Knight Solo?" She gifted him with a rueful smile as they approached a set of blast doors, Captain Panaka and the queen striding purposefully at the front of the group.
"That is the question for the ages, isn't it? Before Darth Cadeus made his reappearance, most people were allowed to be children until they were about seventeen or eighteen. Unless, of course, they were Jedi. . .or children of Jedi. My cousin Ben had to grow up fast after his mother was murdered. He was fourteen at the time. . .and it was my father who murdered her," the knight said softly. Obi-Wan winced. . .but before he could respond, the blast doors in front of them slid open, a hooded figure awaiting them on the other side. Obi-Wan stiffened, recognizing the sensation in the Force immediately: this was the being who attacked Master Qui-Gon and Anakin on Tatooine.
Through what seemed like a long tunnel, he heard Master Qui-Gon informing the queen's entourage that the Jedi would handle this, and the young queen responding that they would take another route. His own words at the beginning of this mission came back to him, 'I have a bad feeling about this.' The summation of that bad feeling now stood in front of him. All of his focus was on the Zabrak in front of him, and the hate flowing from him in waves. But Thane Solo's words broke through clearly, "We'll meet you there." They'll meet us where? But he never had the opportunity to ask. Merit Solo touched his arm briefly, and then followed her brother away from the fight.
He and Master Qui-Gon dropped their respective cloaks, knowing from painful experience that they would only get in the way. The Sith did the same, wearing a decidedly smug expression. Obi-Wan's Bad Feeling became progressively worse when he discovered that the Sith had a double-bladed lightsaber. Oh, not good! However, he said not a word, nor did he focus on his anxieties. Instead, he focused on the fight ahead, knowing that to do otherwise would be lethal for himself and his Master. The three-way fight began and it took Obi-Wan very little to understand what Merit Solo meant when she said 'we'll meet you there,' as the battle took them into the power generator of the Theed palace.
What followed was the most challenging duel of Obi-Wan's life as a Jedi to date. Much to his mortification, he found himself kicked off the catwalk, leaving his Master alone to fight the Sith. And while he was immediately on his feet and leaping for the catwalk where the pair now dueled, he was still struggling to catch up. When it wasn't reaching the catwalk, it was being trapped behind force shields. It was during one of those moments of entrapment, however, that the other two Jedi made their appearance on a catwalk above Obi-Wan, Master Qui-Gon, and the Sith. Obi-Wan had no idea how they got in, but this was one time when 'living in the moment' wasn't an issue for him.
A glance was all that he would allow himself, as the Force warned him that the locks would disengaging any moment. High above him, he saw Merit Solo watching the battle in concern, arms folded over her chest. Thane Solo touched his sister's shoulder, drawing her attention for that moment, and then jumped from his perch to settle just behind Master Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan breathed a little easier. . .his Master was no longer alone against the Sith, and the younger Master had more experience with fighting the Dark Force-user than anyone currently in the Order.
The two Masters had never fought side-by-side, or even back-to-back. They hadn't even sparred, as Obi-Wan and Knight Solo had. But they covered each other, striking at the Zabrak again and again. Another quick glance above him showed Merit Solo pacing back and forth on the catwalk, eyes never leaving his Master and her brother. And it was then that disaster struck. As Master Thane Solo was preparing a follow-up strike, the Sith slammed his elbow into Master Qui-Gon's face and thrust his double lightsaber forward. . .
And two Jedi screamed in grief and pain.