"I can explain -" Rose began, but Ty held up a hand to stop her. He walked over and took the two orbs from Rose, carefully rolling them around in his hands.
"Do you know what these are?" he asked, his eyes glued to them. Rose looked at Obi-Wan, but he only shook his head.
"Not really, no," she admitted. Ty motioned for them to follow him. They continued down the hallway in an uncomfortable silence, Ty leading them farther down. When they came to the end, they were met with a large metal door. Ty pulled a slick key from his pocket and the door slid open, revealing a small circular room with a hologram table in the middle. He placed the two orbs on the table, letting them roll around. He took a seat in a nearby chair and motioned for Rose and Obi-Wan to do the same.
"Cut the shit, kids," Ty said, his eyes narrowing on the two children sitting across from him. Rose felt Obi-Wan shift uncomfortably next to her and he leaned in to whisper to her.
"I think we should tell him the truth," Obi-Wan said. Rose nodded back and opened her mouth to speak, but it was Obi-Wan's voice that sounded first.
"We're younglings from the Jedi Temple. We're looking for something my friend here was looking for, as something was calling to her. I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi and this is Rose Amaha," Ty's eyes narrowed onto Rose as Obi-Wan explained their situation, the same weight behind them she saw before in the hallway. Rose, too, eventually drowned out Obi-Wan's voice, and turned her eyes to observe the man before them. His once tall figure was now slumped over in his chair, his shoulders hunched. His silver eyes bore bags underneath them, as if they had spent many nights awake. Rose's eyes drifted down to his arm, looking closer at the symbols on it. There, right above the flower, she saw the one symbol that mattered. It was the symbol of her family's crest.
"Rose?" Ty croaked out. Rose thought she saw tears pooling at his eyes, but they soon disappeared with a large swallow. Obi-Wan stopped talking and looked back and forth between Rose and Ty, sensing the tension in the air.
"You look so much like your mother," Ty said, getting up from his spot and kneeling in front of Rose. She was at a loss for words, not really sure how to process what was happening. Obi-Wan just watched quietly, as he was at the same loss for words that Rose was.
"I've searched for you throughout the entire galaxy," he elaborated. "When your mother and sister were all killed, they took you, wanting to exploit you for your powers. Your father told me to watch over you if something was to happen to him, but by the time I got there…" Rose saw a tear roll down his cheek, landing on the cold stone floor below. "Your father was a good man, Rose."
"Who are you?" Rose asked, eyeing the crest still. He followed her gaze and laughed slightly.
"I'm your uncle. I worked for the Royal Guard at the time of the attack. I was at the palace, making sure nothing happened to the Queen. When I heard the outer villages were being attacked, I knew I had to return home. By the time I got there, you were already gone. They had wiped out the entire village, including your mom and sister. I don't know where my brother is. You were assumed dead, but I knew better. I searched for you endlessly, Rose. Eventually, age got the better of me. I settled down here, on Dantooine, trying to start a new life," Ty moved from his spot and picked the orbs back up from the table. "That crest of yours – you must keep it hidden, Rose. There are people who would have you dead because of it. I can't really explain, as it's something you have to figure out for yourself, but I can help you down the right path," Ty offered the orbs to Rose, who hesitantly took them.
"Do you know what these are?" he questioned her, moving back to his chair. Rose shook her head sheepishly, the orbs still seeming as if they were calling out to her.
"They're called krayt dragon pearls," Ty explained. Obi-Wan, who had remained quiet this whole time, let a small gasp out.
"These are krayt dragon pearls?" Obi-Wan said in disbelief. "I imagined them to be a lot bigger than this." Ty only laughed at him, the mood of the room brightening.
"Yes, they are. Krayt dragons use these to help them eat. I believe these are the things that have been calling to you. Some people think they have special abilities or something ridiculous like that. They've been in our family for as many generations as I can remember. They used to belong to my brother," said Ty. "I want you to have them, Rose."
Rose's eyes went wide. She looked at Obi-Wan, who gave her a shrug. Rose pocketed the two pearls, not wanting to drop or lose them. She saw a smile appear on Ty's face, and she mirrored it, overjoyed to be reunited with lost family. She moved over and hugged the man, who swept her up in a big bear hug. The two of them stayed like that for a little while, taking in the moment.
"You should go, my dear," Ty whispered into her ear. He set her down and motioned for Obi-Wan to come over. Setting a hand on one of their shoulders, he squatted down so he was eyelevel with them.
"Obi-Wan, was it? I need to ask a favor of you. I need you to look after my niece. I am no Jedi, but I know of the Force, and I can see that your two paths are intertwined together. I know not what the future will hold for you two, but I can feel something dark in the galaxy that will come in the following years. Be on your toes, young ones. Trust no one but yourselves. Now, come. We need to get you back to the Temple. I have a ship the two of you will be able to use. Either of you know how to pilot?" Ty said, moving from his spot. Before they could answer, he ushered the kids out of the room, being sure to seal the door behind them. They moved back down the hallway and up the winding staircase, the two younglings basking in the warmth of the inn.
"Aren't you coming with us?" Rose asked as Ty quickly pushed them into the hangar, heading towards a small two seater spacecraft. The two children clambered in, strapping themselves into the craft.
"I'm afraid I cannot," Ty said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the credits they had given him earlier. Rose noticed how there seemed to be more in the pile than they had given him. "My path is here on Dantooine. Yours is with the Jedi, Rose. Both of your paths are. That is a place I cannot follow you to. Now, go, but always remember I'll be here if you need anything, kiddo. We shall see each other again."
"Wait, I have so many questions –," she was cut off by his smiling face. She understood now – it was all something she was going to have to figure out on her own. Rose was confused by the secrecy behind the information, but kept it to herself as the window lowered itself down around them. Obi-Wan was in the pilot's seat and flew them out of the hangar, narrowly missing the door. Rose felt the queasiness of her stomach grow the higher they went, but it soon subsided as they made their way into open space, the stars of the systems twinkling around them. Obi-Wan set the coordinates for Coruscant, and they soon made their jump into light speed.
"See? An adventure," Obi-Wan joked. Rose merely kicked his seat, a little annoyed she couldn't find out more about what her path was in the universe. She pulled the two orbs out of her pocket, inspecting them closely. Obi-Wan, not paying attention to the ship as it was on auto-pilot, took out his crystal as well, the two blues illuminating the cabin.
"You know you can use those in lightsabers, right?" Obi-Wan said, looking up at her pearls. Rose gave him a funny look, asking for more explanation. "The pearls – you have to tune them with the Force in order to use them in a lightsaber, but only truly experienced Jedi can do that."
"I'll keep 'em with me," Rose said quietly. "Kind of a quirky guy, don't you think? The 'darkness in the galaxy that will come' thing."
"What do you mean?" he asked, opening a food bar and beginning to eat it.
"Ty – he talked about all of that doom and gloom. What do you think he meant by it?" Rose asked, snatching a piece of his bar and popping it into her mouth.
"It's just a bunch of jibberish, Rose. The Republic has been at peace for over a thousand years now. It's going to take a lot more than the ramblings of the uncle you just met to convince me of some impending doom," he said with a matter-of-fact tone. As they reached the planet of Coruscant, Obi-Wan dropped the ship out of light speed. They radioed into the Jedi Temple, and after a short explanation about how Master Yoda left them on Dantooine, they were given permission to land. They were greeted in the Temple's hangar by an exasperated Bant, who threw her arms around Rose.
"Oh my goodness, you're alive! I thought Master Yoda was crazy when he started pulling away! I told him to turn back, but he kept insisting it was going to be some amazing lesson for the two of you! Oh, Obi-Wan, I've never been happier to see your silly self!" Bant let go of Rose and flung her arms around Obi-Wan, who was squirming to try and get free of her iron grip. Rose was whooping and hollering when Master Yoda approached them.
"Find what you are looking for, you have?" he asked, leaning on his cane. Rose nodded and pulled out the two pearls from her bag. He looked at them with a smile before motioning for her to walk with him. Rose left Obi-Wan gasping for air from Bant's hug and followed the Grand Master down the elegant halls of the Temple.
"Found a lot more than I bargained for," Rose said a bit sheepishly. She peered down at the pearls. "Obi-Wan said something about having to tune these in order to make them work. I don't know the first thing –"
"Learn, you will. Teach you how, Master Windu will, but not today. Trouble you, something else does?" Yoda said, leading them into the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Greenery grew all around them, illuminated by the natural light of Coruscant's sun. The light appeared to twinkle off of the numerous waterfalls, sending fractals of light all around the room.
"We met someone on that rock. Someone from my family," Rose began to explain. "He warned Obi-Wan and I of some bad shit that was coming. Do you know what that means?" Yoda scrunched his face, thinking hard for a moment.
"A long journey, you have had. Rest now, you and Obi-Wan should. Begin your training tomorrow, we will," Yoda began walking away, leaving Rose with her burning questions.
"Wait, Master! What does it all mean?" she called after him, but he ignored her question, his own troubles and fears beginning to simmer to the surface. Rose decided to drop it, thinking this was beyond her understanding. She walked over to one of the edges of the fountains and sat down on the lip, staring at her reflection in the water. In it, she saw her normal self: long blonde hair, green eyes, and a short, slim figure. Although she had gained weight since she had come to the Temple, her body was still slim enough to where it almost appeared unhealthy. Rose was just grateful for the food and warm bed. It had never occurred to her that she might still have family alive somewhere out there in the universe. She saw the face of Bant appear next to her, her eyes full of worry.
"Hey, Bant," Rose said with a light smile. Her friend sat on the edge of the fountain, following Rose's eyes down to the reflection.
"Obi-Wan is worried about you. He said you met your uncle on your trip," Bant said, twiddling her webbed fingers around.
"No big deal," Rose said blandly, twirling a strand of her hair.
"He's your family, Rose, and now you left him again -" Bant began, but was cut off by Rose's intense glare. "Sorry. I didn't mean to pry." Bant left Rose with her thoughts at the fountain, a new wave of worry for her friend following her out.
Rose turned back to the reflection, splashing it in frustration. She had never been good with talking to people – the job had never required her to play well with others. She had naturally gotten along with Coab and Kator, as their laid-back natures countered nicely with her ferocious one. Rose pulled her legs up to her chest and closed her eyes. Having seen some other masters do it before, Rose decided to give meditation a try. After a few minutes of silence, Rose began growing more and more impatient, not feeling the almighty "Force" overcome her. Her mind became heavier, and she soon found herself asleep, only waking up to the gentle shaking of Obi-Wan.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," he teased, helping Rose up from her spot. Her eyes adjusted to the dark room, the light of the sun now gone. A couple of hanging lights were the only things allowing Rose to see.
"Whoops," Rose said with a yawn, stretching her sore legs.
"Come on, Rose. You need some rest," Obi-Wan began to lead Rose away, but she stopped him with a hand on his own.
"Thanks."
"For what?" Obi-Wan laughed.
"For going on an adventure with me," Rose said, feeling a slight blush creep its way up to her cheeks. Obi-Wan put his free hand over the one that was gripping his other and looked her square in the eyes.
"Don't mention it. Now, come on. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. It won't do us any good to do it on no sleep."