Yesterday, a year passed since I started posting Troubles. Now, I'm nearly in the middle of the second story in this series. I'd like to send many, many thanks to all that stayed with me for so long! Especially for Rhea1305, as she is my precious beta :)
on the other note, I wanted to post the chapter yesterday as it should be for anniversary, but just recently I've figured out how to go around that ridiculous error that appeared everytime I wanted to post something. sorry about that ;/ and besides, I didn't really know if it's the best chapter to 'celebrate', but oh well, the story must roll.
thanks a lot for this year ^^
Witch's thoughts: hello there. I haven't added anything new recently, but some heavy things happened yet again and I was seriously thinking of not continuing LFO, but somehow I managed to make past the hard moment, and there it is - new chapter. however, I must warn you that it is more dark and heavy than anything I've written so far, so beware. and no, it's not an effect of my mood, those events were planned far before. but, some important issues first.
there will appear a new character of mine, Koga Kunein. those who've read previous chapter carefully, will remember that Anakin already mentioned his name. he is a Shairaani and Shakti's bondmate, but why he is in the Temple and how he became a Knight will be revealed with the plot of the story. the point is, I planned to write a bonus chapter for 'Troubles' that would cover a stay on Shairaan before Siri's death, but I actually never managed to do it. pity. Koga will appear a lot now and the you'll get to know his story^^'
some people were asking me, what music I listen to when writing, and even if I always answer that it's 'various', some pieces were created exclusively for one song. like the cafeteria scene, it was written while listening to "I don't care" by Apocalyptica feat. Adam Gontier, but uncensored version^^
I'd like to thank FelesMagica for her review on the last chapter. you really are a faithful reader, and I feel better knowing that at least one person out there likes my story enough o tell me that :) thank you.
enjoy.
"You sure you wanted to greet him like that, Kitty?"
Bruck put Shakti's bag on the chair and watched as she started to unpack her things, sorting them into the appropriate drawers in her apartment.
"What are you talking about?" the girl didn't spare him a lot of attention, her arms full of books walking around the room and checking the shelves. Bruck decided it would be safer to sit down on the bed, far from her heavy books and unsure grip.
"Oh, you know... In the space port, when we met Kenobi."
Shakti whirled around to look at him, her fair eyebrows high in surprise. Blinking a few times in confusion, she laughed quietly,
"Bruck, you know very well that it's impossible. Ben is dead and has been for three years! How could we have met him?"
The man watched as she calmly went back to her things, in no way displaying any aura of lying. He narrowed his eyes, suddenly suspicious,
"So, who did we meet, according to you?" he asked carefully. Shakti's hands stopped moving while fumbling with her spare tunic,
"I don't know Bruck." She said, for the first time a little unsure. But soon, her voice regained its usual self-confidence. "But it wasn't Ben."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure. Now hold this, I swear I didn't have so many clothes before…"
/
Anakin sighed and turned the page of his physics book, when a shadow covered the rays of sun, which had been warming his cheeks. The boy looked up, surprised.
"Hey Ani, having problems with your homework?"
The boy exclaimed a happy "hello!" upon seeing his friend and turned to her as Shakti sat down beside him. She was nothing like she'd been two days ago, when he came back from the space port frozen and scared. Now, Shakti was back to her usual, calm and slightly melancholic self. Grinning like mad but at the same time not even trying to help it, he asked about her mission, but she laughed and said it wasn't something to talk about before lunch.
"But I already had mine!"
"Too bad then, because I haven't" Shakti smiled characteristically so that her eyes narrowed into thin lines. She stood up, brushing off dust and grass from her clothes,
"I'm going to the cafeteria to meet up with Koga, but can I come by to your Master's later? We have a lot of catching up to do."
Listening to boy's cheerful agreement, Shakti said goodbye and walked away. Now, Anakin's face grew serious. He didn't have to pretend now that her calmness deceived him anymore, he could feel that she was greatly disturbed, but he knew she didn't want him to worry. Shakti didn't want anyone to worry, but that was just the way she was. Always on her own, always independent, afraid to cause trouble to anyone. It's surprising how she was able to fulfil any mission with a partner…
The next second, Anakin found himself on the ground, pushed down by his friends, twins Kumi and Mykki.
"Hey, you didn't tell us you know a Grey Jedi!" complained Kumi, pouting. She looked at her prisoner with faked anger, before releasing his hand from her firm grip.
Anakin frowned, he didn't understand. "A Grey Jedi?".
"A Jedi who met with the Dark Side, but didn't turn," explained Mykki, laughing when his sister made a face at Anakin's lack of comprehension. "You didn't know? They wear grey robes and are rather good at isolating themselves… that girl you were talking with was Knight Aumeros, right?"
Anakin was surprised. He didn't know such a division of Knights existed. He hadn't even noticed that Shakti had been wearing slightly different clothes to everyone else. It sounded interesting, besides, Anakin wanted to know why his friend didn't tell him anything about her being a Grey Jedi, someone who, seemingly, held a lot of respect from the other Padawans. He let himself to be pulled towards cafeteria, as Kumi decided she wanted to see Knight Aumeros with her fellow Knights and while they were eating, would be a perfect chance.
But that was a really bad idea…
/
For a while, I've been wondering about the situation of my bonds. Considering that they have been 'inactive' for about three years, it's a relief to feel them all working properly again. Or nearly all
What surprised me was that I can't feel Shakti anymore. It didn't strike me at first, but seeing her in the space port and still not being aware of her signature and presence was strange enough… or should I say; it should have been strange.
Honestly, I don't remember our meeting too well. For some reason, the details remain unclear for me. I do remember her coming to me, her weird outburst and later, we went back with Qui-Gon and Quella. But what were we talking about before that? We surely did talk, so how come I can't recall a word? It worries me, but no matter how hard I try, I can't remember. The only result I've managed to gain so far is a terrible headache.
I wonder… Shakti sure has every right to be angry, seeing me after three years, when she thought me to be dead. I guess, she can feel betrayed or cheated. But isn't she at least a little happy to see me? Has she shut her shields so tight from grief that I can't reach her? I just hope she will calm down soon. I never thought she would change so much.
I remember her as a shy and gentle girl and later as a restless but responsible, genius healer. Not as the diplomatic, battle-orientated Knight she is now… well, I'm aware that she must have had it hard after I left. Not that I led a rosy life either, but I know that leaving her like that, shortly before she reached maturity, wasn't a good thing to do. Again, not that I had any choice. I didn't want to leave, who would think that? To leave the Temple that is my home, to leave Qui-Gon whom I love more than my life, to leave Quella who taught me things that saved me countless times? To leave her, Shakti, my sister and a second half of myself? How ridiculous is that?
Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in a while. I should go and talk to her. Maybe not feeling her signature has something to do with her? I heard her shields are equal to a Master's level. Besides, I guess it's my responsibility to explain myself for hiding for so long. Yes, talking is a good idea.
As I don't know what she should be doing now, I'll go to cafeteria. If she isn't there, I'll always meet someone who can tell me where she should be at the moment.
/
It's not very far away and I reached the place in practically no time, but my instincts, awakened and trained on Shairaan, forced me to first check who is in the room before I entered. It's a habit now, even in our quarters I can't help but constantly check the locks and doors. I was saved in too many situations by such carefulness for my mind to ignore it.
The cafeteria was not busy, as lunch time was coming to an end. There are some familiar faces around and I made notes to myself regarding who should I visit later to catch up. I noticed fair head by the table to my right. I gritted my teeth forcefully, only to wonder why in the next second. I hadn't seen Bruck Chun for some time, a lot of things had happened and I thought that our childhood quarrels wouldn't affect our work as we are now adults, both scarred and more experienced than we would like to be. Still, I guess old habits die hard.
I saw him talking with some Knight and only when he bent over to reach for something, did I see Shakti sitting beside him. They were a little away from the other Jedi, all three of them wearing grey robes which are unfamiliar to me. A sign of a special squad? Maybe. Quella should know, I made a mental note to ask her later.
Chun put his arm onto the backrest of the bench he's sitting on, this way encircling Shakti's shoulders as well and I felt violent pang in my heart, an awful, acidic feeling of jealousy taking over me. They seemed to be comfortable with each other, she didn't even react to such over familiarity in any way… she didn't even stop talking… so, Shakti found a way cheer herself up after I was gone? I felt my heart starting to beat faster and more forceful in my chest, when I thought about it. It's ridiculous and I knew that, but I couldn't help the fury rising in me when I looked at them: relaxed and laughing.
Chun unconsciously started to stroke Shakti's arms and I felt the fire in my veins turn to ice. I'd always had a good memory and after Endavi's training I can say my memory has become photographic, so I'm quite sure I've seen such scene somewhere…
The image came to my mind, a memory that I hate and despise; a picture of humanoid bouncers, colourful drinks and exclusive decorations of 'Shining Demon'… I suddenly understood everything. I heard blood thumping in my ears when I entered cafeteria, going straight to the table with three Knights dressed in grey.
/
Roxo finished telling them how he nearly got kidnapped during one of his missions and Shakti had to laugh at the ridiculousness of such situation. She wanted to ask him something, but his comm. link buzzed, calling Knight Irrik to the briefing, so he quickly gathered his things and said goodbye, promising to get in touch with them soon.
"Don't get kidnapped this time!" Bruck yelled after Roxo, who winced and disappeared in the corridor, waving to them first. Being left alone, Bruck wanted to turn to Shakti again, but he noticed that someone came closer to their table. Feeling that woman's shoulders tensed suddenly and knowing about her hysterical dislike of crowds, he wanted to tell that someone to leave them alone.
Obi-Wan didn't even allow him to open his mouth.
"Hello Shakti. Hello Bruck." He said his voice cool, calm and unnatural. "Or should I say Kusj Blackstone and Talik Samos?"
To their credit, he had to admit, that neither Shakti or Bruck didn't try to deny anything, they didn't even twitch unnecessarily, remaining in relaxed poses instead. Or so they looked to someone who didn't pay attention to them; the man clenched his fists, but rested them passively on his knees. The woman's body went rigid, she narrowed her eyes and Obi-Wan could swear he saw a faint glint of her claws instead of nails from under her sleeves.
"How do you know?" Bruck's voice was quiet, but normal, not drawing attention. Obi-Wan wondered shortly how much his age mate had changed since they had met last time, before he noticed Shakti watching him and the thumping in his ears became unbearable.
"I've seen you. All you've done. From the beginning I tried to capture you and punish, make you feel all that your victims felt…" he barked, his voice becoming louder and more furious with each word.
"Quiet, for Force's sake!" Bruck jumped to stand up, to grab Kenobi's clothes and drag him out of the cafeteria to explain in a quiet place that some things shouldn't be said in a crowd, but Shakti's hand prevented him from doing that. The hand armed with long, sharp, steel-hard claws.
"Emar Stafador." Shakti said, unbelieving. "You are Emar Stafador."
The woman stood up slowly, clenching her hand on Bruck's arm with so much force that her claws cut his skin, creating five, bleeding injuries. But the man didn't move. Shakti came closer to Kenobi who stepped back, to gain a little more space than it was between the tables.
"You busted us to JAF. You wanted us to be killed." She said, watching his with wide-open, shining eyes. Her pupils were vertical and thin as needles.
"You hunted and captured over twenty Jedi teams. You kidnapped Qui-Gon with Anakin. You wanted to hurt and sell them." Obi-Wan didn't feel well. His attention was wavering, he wasn't sure anymore where he was and with whom; the only clear detail was Shakti's fragile figure; cornering his and making him involuntarily walk back. Everything else went blurry. And crimson red.
"You left me and made me suffer. Do you know how it feels to have your mind broken?" she asked, her tone like snake's, hissing and quiet.
"You were quite fast to comfort yourself with someone else, though. Do you know how it feels to know you can't go back to where you'd die to be?" he responded, hoarsely, his body trembling and sweating as if from high fever.
As much as both of them were trained to cover their emotions for no Force-sensitive to feel, the Jedi gathered at the cafeteria started to notice that something was going on even before Bruck Chun jumped between Kenobi and Aumeros to separate them. The crowd's attention was focused on that three, Obi-Wan Kenobi who'd miraculously came back from the dead and two respected, but feared Grey Jedi. No one noticed that three little kids, Padawans who shouldn't be there, sneaked into the cafeteria, when everybody else was watching the Knights.
Later, nobody was sure who pushed Bruck aside, Obi-Wan or Shakti, but all people in the room heard and saw the moment the two lightsabers clashed. With the swift movements of trained assassins, Obi-Wan and Shakti attacked the other with so much force and viciousness that the more Force-sensitive Jedi present, were suffering.
"Kitty, cut it out!" Bruck tried to catch his partner, but Shakti avoided his hands, made a pirouette and jumped onto one of the tables, causing people sitting there to run away. Kenobi followed her, his 'saber mercilessly finding and aiming for her blind spots.
"Chun, what the hell is going on?" Bruck looked around. From the group of witnesses the other Shairaani Knight, Koga Kunein, appeared cold fury on his face. His tail whipped angrily from side to side when he reached Bruck's side, his ears flat on his head. He followed Shakti with his eyes for a second, watching as she managed to cut Kenobi and turned to Bruck, his expression strangely contracted and uneasy.
"Let's catch them!"
Obi-Wan ducked from Shakti's blade, only to try and cut her from below. She blocked his 'saber just when he thought he'd got her, stopping it with her claws. The blade started to get through the hardened flesh, so she backed off her hand, jumping backwards and up, bouncing off the wall. Not trying to get away, Shakti aimed to attack Obi-Wan from above, but he avoided direct hit by rolling under the tables and standing up behind her back when she landed. Shakti turned around with a powerful back swing of her 'saber, at the same time drawing another blade form her belt. Faintly remembering through thick fog surrounding his mind that Kusj Blackstone used two sabres, Obi-Wan unconsciously positioned his body into appropriate defence form, before he stopped thinking at all.
All of a sudden, Shakti became even faster, neglecting protection, but not caring about minor cuts she was getting because of holes in her defence. In something resembling a ritual dance full of unnecessary moves, at the same time deadly precise and dangerous, Shakti again was getting the upper hand, cornering the man. Obi-Wan gritted his teeth and forced himself to hit harder and faster. He didn't have to push himself so hard since the last time he duelled with Kodachi. Compared to Princess General, Shakti shouldn't be much of an opponent.
The cafeteria was a spacious place and considering that lunchtime had already ended, only several people were inside; Obi-Wan and Shakti had a lot of room to move around. They both were covered in blood from some minor cuts, but neither of them was badly wounded, still encircling and attacking the other like aggressive predators. Not sparing any attention to shouting Knights and Masters that wanted to stop them, Obi-Wan managed to land a kick to Shakti's side, putting her off balance and would have draw the 'saber to her throat if someone hadn't caught his already outstretched arm and pinned him to the wall.
Even joining their efforts, Taceho and Koga had a hard time in keeping up with fighting pair. However, in the end they found enough of an opening when Obi-Wan didn't have a chance to defend from them, to catch him and overpower. Each Knight was holding one of Kenobi's arms, pinning them tightly to the wall, pressuring joints not to let him move. Obi-Wan's 'saber fell down, rattling on the floor in sudden silence.
"Let go!" Kenobi growled hoarsely, struggling to get free from firm grip of the Knights. He tried to regain control, but when he didn't succeed, he started to shout, anger and violence so evident in his voice and signature that Taceho stumbled, falling back a little; but he didn't release his hand.
"Let me go! Let go, for fuck's sake!" fighting with struggling Obi-Wan, Koga managed to look back, hearing his bondmate's voice, but seeing that Chun was able to catch her, he sighed with relief. Shakti was fighting Bruck, who lifted her by making a hold on her shoulders. This way she couldn't reach him with her claws, couldn't stand up to support herself, but the most surprising thing was that she didn't even try to. Shakti was trying to get forward, her sparkling eyes set on Kenobi and him exclusively; she didn't try to get rid of Bruck in order to get free, but instead she seemed to be focused on a thought to get to Obi-Wan and strangle him with her bare hands. The same situation was with Kenobi; he looked at the woman with so much hatred that even as cruel warrior as Koga was, he found himself taken aback.
"You fucker, you don't care about me! You never have!"
"Shut up, bitch! Even if I die, you won't be there for me!"
Bruck clearly had problems with restraining Shakti, as she was squirming like an eel, hissing through cat's teeth. From their side, Koga and Taceho were nearly tossed around, when Obi-Wan put all his strength to get forward.
Suddenly, both struggling went limp and powerless as they both lost consciousness. Tapping of Master Yoda's stick sounded like a thunder in confused silence.
"Take them to the healers', you will." The small Master ordered the Knights standing nearest him, who twitched as if woken up, but moved to take care of the unmoving, defenceless bodies lying on the floor.
"Knights Chun, Raksion and Kunein, follow me." Mace appeared out of nowhere, with stern expression watching that the called unwillingly left their posts by their unconscious friends' side to go to him. Behind his back, he heard a door bang on the wall and he knew who pushed it with so much force, Mace winced when the voice turned out to be masculine instead of Quella's.
"Obi-Wan! For Force's sake, what…"
"Shakti!" Quella burst in shortly after, a little kid by her side, just as by Qui-Gon's, both Padawan's pale and scared. Masters ran forward, wanting to go to their unconscious charges, but Windu stepped in front of them, blocking the way. He drew back a flab of his cloak, revealing Anakin and seeing the boy was what stopped Quella and Qui-Gon more efficiently than any order to calm down.
Holding tightly the sabres that got discarded during struggling, Anakin watched with wide eyes unmoving bodies of Shakti and Obi-Wan, tears silently falling down his paled cheeks.
/
"Eerin, come with me!"
Bruck dragged Bant after himself, nearly running to Healers' Ward. After Councillor Windu dismissed them, Chun wanted to go and see what was happening to Shakti, but considering that he wasn't much into Soul Healers' crap, he found and kidnapped Bant to go with him. However, he didn't think he wouldn't be allowed to enter Shakti's isolation room.
"What d'ya mean I can't? I'm her partner!" he yelled at a young healer that blocked his way. The guy would surely budge, but he was quickly replaced by the stern looking, old Kinian.
"Knight Chun." She hummed through the slits on her neck. "If you cause any more commotion, you will disturb the patients and I will be forced to throw you out."
"But at least tell me how is she!" Bruck exclaimed, clenching his fists. However, the Kinian woman didn't respond, just looked at him with sympathy. Bant felt her heart contract painfully. 'Oh Force' she thought 'is it that bad?'
/
Obi-Wan groaned and cursed quietly, when while turning onto his side he ruffled some of his bruises. The awakening was much worse than he imagined it to be.
"How do you feel, Obi-Wan?" The young man smiled even before he opened his eyes, when hearing the voice of the person he loved. Lazily, he raised his eyelids, but then he nearly jumped out of the bed, seeing that Qui-Gon was nearly transparent, he was so pale.
"I'm fine, but what happened to you? You look terrible!" Obi-Wan wanted to touch his lover, but instead he blinked in surprise, seeing that both his arms were bandaged and hurt.
"What happened to me?" he asked, as if wondering. From the corner of his eye he saw that Qui-Gon startled.
"You don't know?"
"No, to be honest I don't remember…" Obi-Wan was getting more and more bewildered with every second passing, as he was discovering new dressings and bandages on his half-naked body with the curiosity of child, he started to touch each and every one with his left hand as the right felt stiff and he couldn't move his fingers yet.
"You don't remember what happened in cafeteria?"
"I was in cafeteria?" Obi-Wan asked, surprise evident in his voice. He looked at Qui-Gon with furrowed eyebrows. The next question, however, was asked with hesitation.
"You don't remember who attacked you?"
"Attacked me?" Obi-Wan's eyes were wide open in surprise "here, in the Temple? Are you serious, Qui-Gon?"
Master nodded silently not trusting his voice anymore. Suddenly anxious and even a little scared as the expression of his lover pained him, but the healers strictly forbidden him to tell Obi-Wan anything.
/
Soul Healer Avari Viamma stood before Masters Yoda, Windu and Unduli to report.
"Knight Aumeros is in coma and locked in an isolation cell in the Soul Healers' Ward. Knight Kenobi has just awakened in the Physical Healers' Ward. Their state is stable, without any danger to their lives. Actually, the physical damage is much lighter than we estimated." Healer Viamma looked at her pad to ensure she had the appropriate notes on. The three Councillors waited for her to continue, unmoving, silent.
"We didn't detect any mental damage that would be a result of such fight."
"So you say that fighting like that was something natural for them?" asked Mace Windu, frowning. The healer quickly denied this.
"Oh no, Master. We did find the reason for their unusual behaviour, but I just wanted to report on their current state." Viamma again scrolled something quickly on her pad.
"The reason find, you did?"
"Yes, Master." Viamma turned to Yoda. "As you are all aware, Masters, after 'Naboo incident', Shakti Aumeros had to be hospitalised because of the damage her bond with Obi-Wan Kenobi suffered. We somehow managed to calm her, but still, she needed advanced mental treatment that she was later provided with on her home planet. The point is," healer Viamma paused, as if she was looking for right words. "The bond that was supposed to be destroyed suddenly came to life now."
"So their bond is restored?" Master Unduli was surprised.
"Exactly the opposite." Viamma sighed. "Their connection had been incomplete to begin with and the 'death' of Kenobi caused it to be destroyed completely for some reason. Their bond is dead. That's why it's even more surprising it activated now."
"Shouldn't they behave differently? I mean, attacking each other, it's not a behaviour previous bondmates should perform."
"It may be a bad comparison" Viamma began slowly, after thinking for a minute. "But that bond, it's like a bare, ragged electric wire."
"A wire?"
"Yes. When bond is inactive, meaning the wire doesn't have the power, everything is alright. But we think that when Kenobi and Aumeros contacted each other, their signatures provided needed power to stir the bond alive." Viamma's voice became concerned and lost a little its harsh tone. "We don't know that for sure yet, all in all Shairaani aren't properly psychologically classified. It's enough to say that power in our comparison meant electricity, so you can just imagine what would happen should someone touch such a wire."
"But an aggressiveness like this?"
"The bond was raw and it hurt the other bonds while the energy urged it to reconnect. Yes, Master" Viamma nodded to Windu's unasked question "they unconsciously tried to bond again. However, we all know it's impossible."
"What happened?"
"The bond started to hurt the bearer's mind, so the organism wanted to defend itself. The mind was out, so the body attacked the reason for its pain. The other bondmate."
"Is it a transient or permanent state?"
Viamma's face grew serious. "We don't know yet…"
/
Shakti opened her eyes slowly, getting used to dim light of the afternoon with difficulty. Her body hurt all over, every move was one hell of a lot of pain. However, in time, she felt better; every second passing was bringing relief and blessed comfort.
"Are you awake, Shakti?"
The girl turned her head to the side, only to see her Master's pale face looking at her with a strange mix of concern and suspicion.
"Yes, Master." Shakti wanted to adjust some hair form her face and noticed she couldn't. "Master, why I'm tied up?"
"Because they were afraid you'd attack them again. Why did you do that?" Quella barked.
"I attacked someone?" Shakti's voice was so full of surprise that Quella looked at her once again.
"You don't remember?"
"No, Master." The girl's eyes were pleading to tell her it was all a lie, but the woman couldn't grant such a wish.
"You don't remember you've met with Kenobi? That he was hiding for three years but is alive?"
"What?"
"You yelled at him, later ignored for some time…"
"Master, if it's a joke, it's not funny!"
"…just to fight with him in cafeteria." Quella finished with force, with narrowed eyes watching her ex-apprentice. Shakti paled, her lips were barely visible in her white face. She was looking, unblinking into the distance.
"That can't be true… I don't remember… it's not true…"
Quella closed her eyes in tired gesture, feeling as if she was experiencing the most awful déjà vu in her entire life. Neither of them spoke anymore and the only sound that could be heard in the isolation cell was Shakti's quiet sobbing.