Chapter III

It had been over a decade since Obi-Wan had visited Christophsis with his former master. He was a young man, brisking on the status of a Senior Padawan, but still stuck in the mind of a teenager. He was at the age where Qui-Gon trusted him with more mature matters, but felt the need to lecture him as if he was a youngling. The mission to Christophsis had proved that Qui-Gon had been right: he wasn't ready for the trials at that age. He had been too hasty, too immature, and he never forgave himself for what could have happened all those years before.

He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help but dislike the Christophsians. Though he tried, he could never get over his distrust toward them; it was carved into him like a scar (quite literally, actually; during the mission, he had gained a nasty wound from a trigger-happy young mercenary). Whenever one of the senators arrived on Coruscant, they wanted the most luxurious hotels and transports and belittled everyone in their presence. He didn't understand their greediness; how could people be so consumed by wealth that it blinded them to the world?

Not all the citizens were greedy or untrustworthy, however. There were many people that worked day and night in the mining hubs, exposing themselves to hazardous toxins and other dangers just to have a decent life. Obi-Wan could recall a HoloNet segment he had once seen about a dozen miners that had been struck by falling rock, resulting in the closure of the mine. The workers deserved far more than they would ever receive, but the hierarchy in which they lived would never let them.

The other people on the planet, however, were members of the pretentious aristocratic elite. They abused the system, profiting from the dangerous mines without lifting a finger themselves. The Republic disapproved of their occasional slavery and unjust social rankings, but many politicians were afraid to vocalize their opinions. Christophsis was a beautiful, unique world, and it was a pity it had been turned into a state controlled by greed.

On this mission, Obi-Wan tried to keep an open mind. He knew that the proper thing to do was to put his own feelings aside and focus on the innocent lives at stake. However, as he walked down the streets behind the young escort, he cringed at the upper-class citizens that passed by him. They walked around the city donning ridiculous outfits with small alien creatures tied to leashes, all for the sake of displaying their wealth.

"As you can see before you," The young guide began, her cheery voice tearing Obi-Wan from his thoughts, "The Crystal Palace is one of the most magnificent works of architecture in the galaxy," Though her claim was presumptuous, she wasn't wrong; the entire structure of the building was carved out of giant crystalline formations and was decorated with hand-crafted designs that circled around the exterior. The insignias of the planet's founders were etched into the crystal, each depicting a different hardship they went through to establish society; it was no doubt that the laborers had spent years perfecting the intricate details.

"The four chiefs have lived in the palace since the beginning of the oligarchy," She continued, turning to face the two Jedi, "It truly is a wonderful piece of galactic history."

Unimpressed by the history lesson, Obi-Wan let out a heavy sigh as he grumbled, "Forgive me, but when will we get to see the chief? We are here upon his request."

The escort jerked her head back; she was not used to being addressed in such a manner. Her lips parted, preparing to retort, but decided against it; she was a professional, after all. Instead, she cleared her throat and offered the men a signature wide smile, "Of course; I am sure he is ready for you now. Please, follow me."

As they followed behind the girl, Obi-Wan gave Anakin a satisfied grin. Unable to control himself, Anakin chuckled, hoping not to attract the attention of the escort before him. He playfully elbowed Obi-Wan's arm, grateful that things were feeling normal between the two of them.

The group made their way up the large staircase of the palace, heading toward the grand foyer. The afternoon sun cast a glistening shine on the building, giving it a celestial appearance. As they made their way into the entrance hall, the Jedi were greeted with wide-eyed stares from local bureaucrats; it wasn't often the oligarchs invited Jedi to the planet.

"You would think people of such wealth and status would be a bit more considerate," Anakin mumbled, gesturing toward the politicians that lined the edges of the foyer.

Obi-Wan scoffed, "Oh, you would think."

As they continued throughout the main lobby, the sound of their footsteps echoed throughout the silence. At the beginning of a corridor, two Chaleydonian guards stood with expressionless faces, their fingers curled around tall crystal javelins. Their eyes stayed focused on the distance, not turning to look as the escort guided the Jedi down the hallway.

The walls were decorated with oil-based paintings of the four current (and past) Christophsian chiefs, ranging from reign the further down the hall one went. Obi-Wan stopped before one the portraits, tilting his head to side as he examined the work. The man in the picture was easily identified as a member of the Tagge Dynasty. He was painted elegantly, his bright red hair contrasting against the teal of his crystal throne.

"These are some wonderful paintings," He gestured toward the piece.

"Oh, yes," The escort paused before another painting to admire it for a moment, "Christophsis is also very well known for our artwork; it is one of our most valuable exports."

The two Jedi raised their eyebrows in false admiration. It seemed as if every conversation served as an opportunity for the young woman to blurb about the apparent greatness of the planet. By the way she spoke, she was clearly from a wealthy family, and the pride she felt toward her homeworld was most likely drilled into her from birth.

The rest of the walk down the corridor was in silence, much to the liking of the Jedi. The escort eventually stopped before a large door with labyrinthine designs carved into the crystal, almost matching the details on the exterior of the palace. She turned to face the men, offering them a toothy grin as she gestured to the door behind her, "This is one of the four throne rooms in the palace. This is where Chief Holst holds his important meetings. Whenever you are ready, go on in. And, thank you for your visit to the Crystal City."

The Jedi nodded in respect, waiting for the woman to excuse herself back down the hallway before they entered the lavish throne room. A crystal throne - identical to the ones in the paintings - sat in the center of the room. It towered over a desk, filled with a tidy collection of papers, holodiscs, and other official looking materials that the oligarch most likely never used.

"Ah, welcome," A deep voice called from a silhouette camouflaged into the shadows of the throne. Obi-Wan and Anakin bowed before the chief as they waited for his invitation to sit. "I am grateful that you both have traveled all the way to the Outer Rim to visit our planet."

"And we are grateful to be here as well," Anakin spoke, smiling at the chief, hoping to feed his ego as much as possible (and, without overdoing it, of course).

Chief Holst grinned, "I hope that my escort took you on a proper tour of the city; it is not often that Jedi can wander our streets. Did you see anything that caught your attention?"

"Absolutely," Anakin nodded, willingly speaking on behalf of Obi-Wan, who looked like he would rather be anywhere else than he was now, "The architecture here is the most unique in all the galaxy; I've seen nothing like it."

"Well, that is good to hear!" Holst roared with laughter as the Jedi forced uncomfortable chuckles of their own. "We have to get Jedi out here more often! You are quite a treat!"

"Indeed," Obi-Wan nodded his head, most definitely not making any plans to revisit the planet any time soon. Beside him, Anakin shot him a warning glare, but he continued, "Forgive me, but how may we be of your service?"

Chief Holst leaned forward in his throne, lacing his fingers together while he spoke to the men in a hushed tone, as if the information was any secret. "I'm sure you have heard of the pirates that are occupying our mines. They have stolen large amounts of crystalline that we cannot afford to lose. I have tried sending diplomats and soldiers to negotiate with them, but they are not the most eager to listen."

"Chief, please pardon my ignorance," Obi-Wan paused for a moment, weighing carefully on his words so he didn't offend the oligarch, "But, I'm not sure I completely understand how the Jedi are any help to your situation."

With a knowing grin, Holst explained, "Master Jedi, I have hired mercenary after mercenary and none have been able to stop these pirates. These raiders will stop at nothing to infiltrate our mines and tarnish our economy. It would be foolish for the Jedi to sit idly by, allowing our planet to deconstruct as we are so beloved by the galaxy. And, not to mention, we are a great source of lightsaber crystals."

Out of the corner of his eye, Obi-Wan shared an annoyed look with Anakin, brief enough for it to go unnoticed by Holst. Though the chief was slightly overzealous, he wasn't wrong in how important Christophsis was not only to the galaxy, but also to the Jedi Order. Besides, by eliminating the threat of the pirates, many innocent lives could be spared.

"Alright, Chief, I suppose you have proven your point. However, we will work under the condition that the job is left solely up to us; there are often times that I disagree with the rash methods of mercenaries."

Holst reached for the collar of his surcoat, tugging it away from his body. He cleared his throat, looking between the two men nervously. "Well... Master Jedi, I am afraid that I will not be able to… abide by your condition. You see, I have already promised pay to a mercenary to work on this job."

Obi-Wan waved his hand, "That is not a problem, Chief; we will reimburse your payment handsomely if you simply dismiss the mercenary. I am sure he will be gracious of our compensation."

"Oh, I am afraid that she will not take to that lightly," he chuckled to himself.

"I am sure that, under the request of two Jedi, there will not be an issue," Obi-Wan gave Holst a stern look, subliminally demanding that he relinquish the hired pay. He was quite familiar with the work of Christophsian mercs, and he was not fond of their… self-absorbent ways. They fit in too perfectly with the stereotype the citizens were often known for.

"I suppose that you may want to have this conversation with the mercenary yourself. Maybe your… powers of persuasion can influence her decision."

As he made his way down the lengthy corridors of the Jedi Temple, using the help of his hover panel, Yoda reflected on the Lothal situation. Though he knew better than to assume the worst, it was odd that he had yet to hear from the two girls in the Outer Rim. He approached the control room and knocked on the door, waiting patiently for one of the operators to grant him access.

After a moment, the door opened, and the operator nodded in respect at the sight of the Jedi, "Master Yoda, please come in," With the invitation, Yoda slipped into the room, using the Force to close the door behind him. The other Jedi folded her arms across her chest as she studied the serious expression on Yoda's face, "How may I be of assistance, Master?"

"Find a transmission for me, you can," He began as he looked up at the operator, "Curious about the two Jedi on Lothal, we are."

With a slight nod, the operator turned her attention back to the control panel next to her. She sat down in the spiral chair before the board as she silently scanned through various transmission reports received from the past few days. She frowned as she swirled to face Yoda, "We have received no transmissions from the Lothal system since the second day of their mission. I can try to send a message to their starship if you would like."

"Do," He nodded, shifting his weight on his cane, "To us report back when you have received contact."

The operator nodded in understanding as Yoda turned back toward the door, making his way back out into the corridor. It was customary for those on missions to report back each night with their coordinates and any important information they had; it was unlike a Jedi Knight as experienced as Yula Jade to forget something as basic as that.

However, he had felt no disturbances in the Force, and that thought was enough to keep his concerns at a minimum. Nonetheless, it wasn't wise to assume…

"I certainly hope that this mercenary accepts our offer and goes on her way," Obi-Wan muttered, more to himself, as he paced about the meeting hall. He was beginning to feel his stress creeping back up on him. "We already have enough on our plate, and I'd like to avoid any unnecessary drama."

Across from him, Anakin sat at the long table, scanning through hologram notes regarding the history of Christophsian mines. "I'm not sure I know of anyone who could turn down such a generous offer," he rolled his eyes as he set the hologram pad down on the table, sliding it out of his way. The information in the documents was too… stale for his liking; he was much more interested in fighting off pirates. "You don't think that it's a bit too much, though?"

Obi-Wan sighed as he sank down into one of the tall chairs diagonal from Anakin. He folded his arms on the table, looking at the reflective glass that covered the top, "I will pay any sum of credits to get this mission over with as quickly as possible. You know I don't… prefer to be around these people."

"Oh, yeah," Anakin chuckled as he leaned back in his chair, lifting his feet from the ground, "They truly are a terrifying group of ego maniacs."

Before he could retort, the large doors to the meeting hall opened, revealing two teal-clad Chaleydonian guards behind the threshold. They entered the room, separating wide enough for a cloaked figure to slip in between them. After a brief pause, the guards turned to face each other, and then banged their crystal javelins, sending a slight vibration through the ground. In unison, they bowed their heads and exited the room, reaching for the silver knob near the top of the door, pulling it closed.

The mercenary stood at the end of the table, keeping her head pointed toward the ground. The two men pushed their chairs back, a screech filling the room as they stood in respect. Looking between each other, the Jedi were cautious of how to approach the mysterious woman; whomever spoke first had the upperhand.

Finally, Obi-Wan stepped toward the woman and extended his arm, trying his best to be amicable, "Madam, we have been informed by Chief Holst that you-"

"You have got to be kidding me," She reached for the lining of her hood, pulling the fabric down to expose her face. "If it isn't Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Anakin straightened his posture, snapping his head in Obi-Wan's direction. He was desperate for some explanation for why his former master looked as if he would combust on the spot. The tension in the air intensified while no one spoke.

Obi-Wan cleared his throat, "Viera Satori; I ought to have suspected you would become this lustful for profit," he scoffed at her, rolling his eyes slightly. Beside him, Anakin remained still, searching the depths of his memory to remember a time when he had met (or even heard of) the woman.

She gave him a hideous smirk as she folded her arms across the front of her dark tunic, "I was hoping that I would live the rest of my life without hearing that awful Coruscanti accent ever again."

The men eyed her as she walked toward them. Obi-Wan instinctively let his fingers brush the hilt of his lightsaber as she pulled back one of the chairs surrounding the table. She plopped into the seat, stretching her arms out in front of her before propping her feet atop the table, making sure her lack of respect was known.

Obi-Wan exhaled as he used the Force to grab his own chair, finally breaking the silence, "Oh, trust me, Satori; I'm not happy about this either."

After the three were seated, a terrible silence haunted the room. The awkward stiffness sent a shiver down Anakin's spine. He hated feeling like the odd one out, but he knew the history between the two was a deep one he would never come to understand.

Viera looked at the two men, her eyes darting back and forth as if she was expecting one of them to strike her down with their lightsabers. Finally, her dark eyes settled on Anakin, her piercing stare causing an uncomfortable flutter in the pit of his stomach; it was impossible for him to understand the strong effect this stranger had on him.

While keeping her gaze on Anakin, she spoke to Obi-Wan, "Where is the taller one?"

His jaw clenched as he turned his face away from her, his knuckles white from gripping the edge of the table. It was nearly impossible for him to fight the emotions that Viera resurfaced. He thought about the day in Theed, and how he might not be in the middle of the Crystal City if he had just been stronger. Quicker. Smarter.

Using all of his might, he cleared his mind before answering her question through gritted teeth, "He is dead."

She had not expected that, and the slight jerk of her head gave her away. Despite her deep hatred for Obi-Wan and everything he believed in, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the fallen Jedi. She had met him once, many years before, but he was kind. He hadn't deserved whatever virulent fate he had endured.

The corner of her mouth twitched, "That's too bad; he was much more forgiving than you."

"I suppose that he was," Obi-Wan he spoke slowly while his nostrils flared. He imagined what his former master would say if he had been in the room. He could feel his hand on his shoulder, reminding him to control his emotions. He would tell him to stop acting like a Padawan.

He knew that his behavior was inappropriate, and he dreaded the meditation he would have to attempt later. With a deep breath, he continued, "Satori, I didn't come here to catch up."

"I assumed that much," she rolled her eyes, "You never seemed to be the gregarious type, Kenobi."

He sighed, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. It would take all of his focus not to lose his temper with her, which was easy to do. But, this was business, and he needed to get her out of his way before she put all their lives in danger, "I will offer you double of whatever the Chief has paid you and all you have to do is go away."

"And let the Jedi get all the glory? I think not."

He fluttered his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Viera, I'm not suggesting that you leave, I'm demanding it. It would be in the best interest of all for you to accept my credits and be on your way. Besides, this is nothing more than just another paycheck for you, anyway."

"Now, you listen to me, Kenobi," she sat up in her seat, pointing a finger at the Jedi Master. Her cheeks had flushed, and a new anger seared her eyes, "There is no way in hell I will give up on this mission. This is my home - some of those pirates have killed my loved ones."

"I wasn't aware that you were capable of love," he sneered, rolling his eyes.

"As if you would know, Master Jedi."

The room fell silent again, the only sound coming from the pounding in each of their ears. The two stared at one another, killing each other with their eyes. They were consumed by emotions that the course of a decade should have allowed them to overcome.

Unable to stand the tension any longer, Anakin spoke, "Forgive me, but I agree that you should leave this mission to the Jedi, Miss Satori."

She turned her gaze to him, giving him a less menacing stare. "There isn't a single amount of credits, nor threats, that you can give me to make me give up on this mission. Who would I be without my integrity?" In response, Obi-Wan scoffed. She scowled back at him while she continued, "You will either put up with me, or you will leave."

"If we leave then we will cause unnecessary conflict with the chief," Obi-Wan gestured, pointing out the obvious.

Viera cocked her head to the side, leaning forward in her chair as she smiled tauntingly, "Then I suppose you know your decision."

First off, I'm so excited to have finally introduced by OC! As time goes by, you'll learn more about her and her past. In the future, I'd actually like to write a brief (couple chapters) spinoff about her life before the events of this story! I have plans for this to be a pretty long story; I'm aiming for three installments, just like the movies are. I know it's hard for any of you to say now since she was just introduced, but if you'd be interested in a spinoff about her, let me know (though, I'm probably going to do it anyway).

Also, I've created a Tumblr page for this fic. You can find it at .com (If that turns out funny, you can simply just search for the url starwarsthedarkcrusade). On that blog, I'm going to be posting updates, information about original characters, and more!

Finally, thank you all so much for reading so far. I've never been this excited about writing before; it actually feels like fun rather than a chore. I'm so excited for what's to come, and I hope you're all enjoying it! :-)