Far From Home

Chapter 18

Warren gave the Jedi Master a critical look and said, "Well, I'm Warren Starling too, but I'm a former Sith."

Shocked, Master Starling shouted, "A Sith! What in the world is going on here? You can't be me, but you look like I did about 10 years ago. Who the heck are you?"

Ben sighed and took a step in between the two and held up his hands. "Now, gentlemen let's be calm. There is no need for confusion. This young man here is indeed Warren Starling, but he is from a different dimension. He has led a very different life than you, Master Starling, but essentially you are both the same men. I'm a bit surprised that you would have a counterpart at all since Warren is from a past timeline."

The scar-Jedi said, "I've been in cryogenics for almost 20 years, but I'm actually about 50. I only look about 10 years older than you do because I probably am. My physical age is about 30."

"I see, then you must be about the same age as Master Luke," said Kiya. "The same is true for Warren. Did you fight the Empire?"

Starling nodded solemnly, "Yes, I have. I was raised among the Rebels and escaped the Purge with my Master when I was a child. But, I wasn't frozen until about 5 years after the Empire fell. I worked with several Rebels to take down the few remaining stormtroopers in some outpost locations in the Outer Core. I was fatally injured and placed in cryogenics during that time, but I didn't learn about the victory until after I was awoken."

"Oh, Master Starling, I'm so sorry," said the blue-eyed beauty. She then placed her hand over his arm in sympathy. Yet, once she touched him he felt a jolt of sensation travel up his spine. She was so lovely that he couldn't help, but smile.

"Don't be sad for me, my lady. I feel that our meeting is fated. I think it's fortunate that I could meet you now as I am."

However, Warren began to fume. He didn't like his counterpart getting too friendly with his Angel, so he reached over and pulled the lady-Jedi towards him by the hand and wrapped his arm around her waist and gave his elder double a glare.

"Kiya is mine, Master Starling. And I don't care how fortunate you think you are, but you aren't taking her away from me."

Enraged, the scar-Jedi growled, "Lady Kiya is not some kind of object, boy. You can't stake a claim on her like some wild animal, but then again I shouldn't except too much from a former Sith."

"She's my Angel, you copy-cat! And if you want a piece of me then we can settle this outside."

"Warren," warned Ben in a harsh tone. "Remember what you promised."

Annoyed, the former Sith cried, "But he's the one who started it, Obi-Wan!"

The Knight was irritated. He couldn't believe what was happening. It was like being between two dogs fighting over a bone. It just irked him that the bone or female in question was his own daughter. And how bizarre was it that the men involved were actually two versions of the same man. The universe was obviously strange, but this was almost too much to handle. Good lord, what was the world coming to?

"Warren, I don't care who started it. You are behaving like a Padawan."

"I'm not your Padawan, Obi-Wan! I'm not a Jedi," shouted the Dark Knight.

He was then about to draw his saber and ignite it when Kiya suddenly grabbed hold of the young man's arm and pulled his away. She then reached up with her hand and gently began to channel soothing waves through the Force as she caressed his cheek. Kiya didn't want to see a fight break loose and she was secretly thrilled when Warren wrapped his arm around her. It excited her how passionate her Dark Knight could be, but she knew this was neither the time nor the place for such—feelings. And so, she sent out vibrations to cool his anger and center his mind just like she done for her father and brother many times before.

Instantly, Warren's anger faded under Kiya's fingertips that he closed his yellow hate filled eyes and allowed them to return to their natural brown state. Though, when he opened them he gave Master Starling a dangerous look and quickly stormed away to find a place to think.

"Warren!" cried Kiya behind him, but he didn't stop and Ben stepped forward and placed his hand over her shoulder.

"Let him go, darling."

"Oh, father," exclaimed the blue-eyed beauty mournfully. She gave her father one last look before leaving the hanger bay herself. She felt too overwhelmed with emotion that she feared she'd channel too much energy within the Temple. She knew she had to find a place to train. She had to find a place to expel her feelings into the Force.

Meanwhile, Ben shook his head sadly as he saw his daughter leave. He knew her mixed heritage caused her a great deal of problems when she got too emotional. And who could blame her really? After finally finding someone who loves you and then only to discover he has an older twin who's attracted to you too is unusual. Anyone would be confused. Though, he did have faith in Kiya to make up her own mind. She was a very honest girl with the will of a warrior. He liked to imagine that she was like how Thrice was as a girl.

"Master Kenobi, I'm sorry if I caused you or Lady Kiya any distress. This has been a very shocking day, but if you don't mind I think I'll leave you and go mediate."

Ben bowed. "Yes, of course, Master Starling. I understand. Doubles can be very distressing."

"Do you think Lady Kiya will be all right?"

The Knight smiled. "Yes, she just needs time."

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Location: Temple training room

Kiya roared as she slashed her sword against her opponents with such force it went sailing across the floor and stopped at the feet of one of the spectators. A large crowd of Padawans and Masters came to watch and challenge the infamous Lady Kiya Kenobi. She was notorious for getting into emotional fits that she burned off with intense training sessions with several duelists in secession. It was her way of handling her feelings and to stop herself from channeling the Force into atomic energy.

However, Kiya's love for sparring also made her one of the most skilled swordsmen in the Order. It was said she could probably even best the members of the High Council and that she was equal to none but a few. Though, most Padawans enjoyed her fits because she presented a rare opportunity to hone their skills with the blade. Even Masters liked to challenge her because she and her brother were some of the few Jedi who knew both Clan and Jedi styles of fighting and combined them effortlessly.

"Next," called the blue-eyed beauty.

Kiya had changed into a white battle-suit to train, but left her scarlet sash around her waist to accent her figure and to show she was a member of the Clan. Kiya had a great deal of family pride, but inwardly her thoughts were elsewhere. She couldn't stop thinking about Warren and Master Starling. She could help remembering the excitement she felt when he touched her possessively.

He was called an animal, but deep down she liked it. She wanted the animal. She wanted the fire and the passion. She wanted him to consume her and all her wild feelings because sometimes the intensity of her feelings frightened her, but not Warren. She saw in him somebody who understood that sometimes feelings ran deeper than the surface. That just under the skin lay a whirlwind of fever and flame. Sometimes Kiya feared she'd spill over with liquid fire.

Meanwhile, Kiya evaded every swing and blow from her next opponent like an elegant dancer. She felt the flow of the Force around her like the blood flowing in her veins. She then used her free hand to shove her challenger off balance and sent the poor Padawan to the ground. Kiya swept up like a wave and leveled the hovered the tip of her blade near the Padawan's head as she grasped him by the throat.

"Match. Who's next?"

"I'll take you on, my lady," called Master Starling from the crowd.

The Jedi Master removed his outer robe and pulled his lightsaber from his belt. He gave the lady-Jedi a wink and was about to step into the ring when suddenly his friend, Master Teno whispered into his ear, "Starling, you don't want to do this. Do you know who that is?"

"Yes, Lady Kiya Kenobi."

Wide-eyed, Master Teno exclaimed, "Yes, Kiya Kenobi! The Great General's daughter. She's trained to fight like a warrior-witch and she was the Grand Master's apprentice. She also Master Halt's personal sparring partner. She's going to humiliate you."

"You worry too much, Teno."

Starling then entered the ring and the two began to duel. The scar-Jedi was surprised to discover that Kiya was no timid fighter. She went after him with might and skill that blow after blow he could not drive her back. Then, he accidentally cut his blade into a wall and severed an electrical line and half of the room fell into darkness. However, Kiya didn't let up and continued to battle Starling into the shadows.

It was in the half-light that Starling saw the lady-knight's eyes begin to glow. They seemed to shimmer like a cat's under the moonlight. It gave her an otherworldly appearance that chilled him. And just as he was about to swing his sword to attack her, it was blocked by his doppelganger, young Warren.

Roughly, Starling was forced away from the blue-eyed beauty and faced with the former Sith and his red lightsaber. However, the moment Warren ignited his blade the room suddenly grew dead quiet. They recognized the red laser as a Sith's blade.

Though, the silence was broken as Kiya stepped forward. "Warren! What are you doing?"

"I don't want you to fight him, Kiya. I don't want you to have anything to do with him."

"Don't be silly, Warren. I can spar with anyone I wish. I give lessons on sparring all the time. I enjoy it."

"Not with him, Angel."

"And why not? It wasn't like I was losing. I can beat him."

Warren turned around and faced the lady-knight and said, "That isn't the issue. You shouldn't be enjoying anything with that man."

Suddenly, realization struck Kiya like lightening. She knew then and there that Warren was jealous. He was actually jealous of himself—his own counterpart. Force, if though being attracted to someone wasn't hard enough, now she had to deal with jealousy. Annoyed, the lady-knight roared, "That's it, everybody out! Clear the room, everyone now."

Alone Padawan said to Kiya, "Are you sure, Lady Kiya? This man's a Sith."

Irritated, the blue-eyed beauty raised her hand and shoved the doors to the training room wide open with the power of the Force and shouted, "Leave! Now!"

It didn't take long before the room cleared and Kiya, Warren and Master Starling were the only ones left in the room. Kiya knew the other Masters would question her orders and one of them might summon Master Luke or her father to intervene, but for now they were alone.

Kiya then waved her hand to close the double doors shut with a bang as she turned to address the two men with an icy glare. "Why the Force are you two dogs following me?"

Starling deactivated his blade and approached the beauty and said, "Forgive me, my lady, but I wanted to ensure you were alright. I had no idea you were such a gifted swordsmen. Please, let's not deal with this young man and continue our match."

Warren growled and said, "Don't even try it, Jedi. I told you that I don't want Kiya to have anything to do with you. And least of all, sparring. You don't understand Kiya. When she spars it isn't about practice, it's about feeling—you shouldn't be allowed to touch her when she's so full of emotion."

Kiya flushed and cried, "That's enough, Warren. And it wasn't like that. I'm not like my parents. Sparring isn't like foreplay for me, so please don't make this an issue when the real point here is that you're jealous."

The former Sith's eyes began to grow yellow with wrath as he inched closer to Kiya and replied, "So what if I am jealous? I told you Kiya that I loved you. I've felt how deeply you feel that I can't bear the thought of you sharing your feelings with anyone else, but me. But, I won't force you, Angel. You can be with him if you like, though you should know it makes me feel scorned if you do."

Warren then turned and began to walk towards the doors and left without another word. Meanwhile, Kiya stared after him mystified. She had no idea he felt that way about her abilities. For Kiya, her talents with Force-channeling had always been second nature. She healed and sent out vibrations indiscriminately to Jedi and non-Jedi alike. She didn't know that Warren coveted her skill like a precious commodity. And the feelings she did share with him at the time were only superficial—only lustful passions, not love and devotion. No, what she shared with him was only the very surface of her feelings. Her emotions had changed so much since then.

"Warren—"

"My lady, please let him go. That young man is a fool to walk away from you. But, I can understand him loving you. I've never met a more graceful or fiery woman before in my life. Please, let us be friends. Allow me to court you."

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TBC

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Thanks for your reviews, Bekah, gurnius and Jedi Angel001.

First off, yes I'm not the best speller. Hence my pen name is "Miss Ink" but I think my quick updates kind of balances out things. I'm glad everyone likes the plot twist in having two Warren Starlings. Though, I am starting to feel bad for poor Warren. He keeps getting more and more problems when it comes to being with Kiya. It's beginning to look like a real soap opera. And thanks Jedi Angel001 for liking the whole cryogenics idea. I really had to brainstorm on that one to make sure things made sense in the timeline.

Please keep reading and reviewing. Thank you.