AN: As I said, updating quickly while I can. University starts again in a few weeks, and then I'll be swamped. Also, I've updated the photo album. Link is in the second chapter. I'm going to get it out while I can. As per usual, read and enjoy! And May the Force Be With You :).
P.S.- Someone mistook this for an Anakin/OC story, and it will most definitely be an Obi-Wan/OC story. Anakin will play a role, absolutely, but he and Charlie won't end up together. Sorry for any confusion!
Disclaimer: It's all George's.
CHAPTER 3
Charlie didn't speak on the way to her room. She was visibly shaking, her fists clenched at her side. Several times she almost fell, needing the droid's quick assistance to keep her upright. She didn't know what emotion was affecting her like this; anger or fear. She wanted to scream and throw things in her anger. How dare that awful, terrible man just assume she was going to fall under him will and become is weapon. On the other hand, she was terrified of experience more of the same pain she'd just been subjected to. The cold, emotionless look in Tyranus' eyes gave her chills again and again.
She noticed that they were heading a different direction than her cell, but didn't take much notice of it. She wasn't tired, per say, just worn down. The droid tried to make small talk as they walked, but when it became clear that Charlie wasn't about to reciprocate, it quieted down. She was in no mood to hear Sith propaganda from a droid undoubtedly programed to think its master was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Speaking of which, she was starving. She didn't think she'd eaten anything since that last dinner on Janulik.
So she was relieved when they stopped. They were in front of another sliding door, and the droid instructed her to press her hand to the security pad next to it. The door opened at her touch to reveal a serviceable room. The bed looked much more comfortable than the one she'd slept on last night, but then again, so would a wooden board. The room was black and silver, with a sort of cold feel that made her think it would never become home. The droid pointed out the fresher off to the right and the closet to the left. The room had a bed, a nightstand, a desk, a closet, and a fireplace.
"Come with me, milady, and we'll get you cleaned up." The droid walked her into the fresher.
It also looked serviceable. Black marble streaked with white form the appliances. She noticed a touch panel by the shower.
"You shower while I retrieve food and clothes." the droid instructed. "There are clean underclothes on the desk and a robe on the back of the door." The droid turned to leave.
"Wait!" Charlie called, "Will you bring me wraps for my forearms? I'm rather unused to having them bare." She hugged them to herself, hands covering the majority of the marks, feeling very small.
The droid paused for a moment, and then nodded. "I will see what I can find, milady."
Charlie smiled at it, the first time those face muscles had been used in a while, and said "Thank you." The droid was the first being that had shown her any kindness in this strange place.
She reached over to grab the clean underclothes from the desk, and shut the fresher door behind her. A light came on overhead, but there were no windows. She caught sight of herself in the mirror, and stopped, staring. She looked... haggard. Distressed, sad, maybe a little angry. She'd never seen herself like this before, and a fear touched her once again. She pulled her eyes away, not wanting to look anymore. She stripped, leaving her soiled nightshirt and leggings on the edge of the sink. She walked over to the panel, bare feet treading lightly. It responded to her first touch, and asked her if she wanted to turn on the shower. She selected a nice hot temperature. She wanted to be clean.
The water was strong and boiling and Charlie tried to scrub the past day off of herself. She was gentle on her burst marks, but vigorous everywhere else. She washed her hair with the shampoo that was available, taking her time. She didn't know how the rest of today would go, and she wanted to be as clean as possible for whatever lay ahead. When she felt like she would melt under the water if she stayed in any longer, she tapped the panel again, switching the stream off. She toweled herself off, dressed in the underclothes and a surprisingly soft robe, and threw her long hair up in the towel.
Charlie's feet were cold on the metal floor when she stepped out of the fresher, letting the steam out with her. She padded over to the nightstand, hoping to find with which to brush her hair. She found a comb in he draw, and sat on the bed to start working it through her hair. She hummed as she worked, trying to fill the empty room. She'd been singing for as long as she could remember, mostly for fun, sometimes with the town choir for holiday songs. Now, she hummed for comfort. But before she could fully transition to singing, there came a knock on the door. Charlie replaced the comb, having tied her hair back in a simple french braid.
The droid knocked again. Charlie walked to the door, looking for a panel and finding one identical to its counterpart on the other side of the doorway. She tapped it, and in walked the droid, clanking with every step. TC-14, as she remembered its name was, had a full armload. Charlie rushed to help, not wanting it to drop anything. Charlie grabbed provisions and a water jug from the droid, taking them over to her desk. On the bed, TC laid an armful of clothes.
Charlie walked over to the best, curious as to what the droid had picked out for her. The droid pulled tight lace-up leggings, short shorts, a camisole that just reached the top of the shorts, and a tunic from the pile. Everything was black. Charlie pulled her robe off and dressed, not minding that TC was there. Everything fit, and she didn't know whether this disturbed her or not. When she was fully dressed, TC handed her socks and knee high boots. Again, everything fit perfectly. The boots molded to her feet, nice and comfortable. TC handed her a utility belt and a cloak to finish off the outfit. She strapped everything on before she noticed that her arms were still bare. The tunic sleeves cut off as it left her shoulder.
"TC, did you find wrappings for my arms?" She questioned the droid.
"Oh, yes milady. Here we are." The droid pulled out two strips of cloth, black again, and handed them to Charlie. Charlie wrapped her forearms with a practiced hand and tied them off expertly as TC watched.
"Milady, if you don't mind me asking, are you ambidextrous?"
Charlie looked up, surprised. She'd never thought it that way.
"I guess I am TC. I never really thought about it until now." Charlie shrugged, testing her wrappings for comfort.
If a droid could have looked thoughtful, TC would've. "Nonetheless," said the droid, "now I am to begin your instruction on the ways of my master and his apprentice. If you could, tell me what you know of the galaxy and the republic?"
Charlie turned with interest, thinking. "A lot less than I thought I did a day ago." she said ruefully. "Janulik was an outer rim planet. The people of Creuset kept to themselves. Traders used to tell stories about the Force, but everyone thought they were made up. There was no reason to think otherwise. I heard mention of the Sith and the Jedi one time at the market, and I when I questioned my aunt and uncle about them, both confirmed that they were naught but fairytales. I suspect now, though, that we were mistaken."
TC paused before speaking, assimilating everything that Charlie had told her.
"Very well. You have much to learn. Please, milady, sit and eat while I talk, for I fear it will take a while. You must be hungry."
It was true, Charlie was starving. So she sat at the desk and opened a few of the packages of food, starting her meal as the droid began its tale.
"You are correct to assume you were mistaken." TC began, "The Force is real. It surrounds you. It is part of you, part of your very essence. The Jedi and the Sith are as much a fairytale as you are. They are quite real. Any Force-sensitive being can interact with the force, but it takes a Jedi or a Sith to control it successfully, and with enough precision for it to be useful." The droid continued, speaking of the Galactic Republic. It briefly covered the galaxy's long history and the different wars that it had gone through to spawn the Republic. "As much peace as the galaxy has experienced in recent years," it said, "my master has experience nothing but turmoil." The droid spoke of the Jedi as wrong, not fully in control, and as dictators who'd come to rule to galaxy through false means. It talked about different ways the Jedi had wronged the Sith.
As Charlie sat and listened, something sounded... off to her. She knew enough about droids to know that this one sounded even less human than it normally should have. It sounded recorded. An idea occurred to Charlie than. She stood, watching the droid carefully for a reaction. She waved a hand in front of its face. Nothing. She jumped around a few times, trying to catch its attention. Nothing. This droid was not as it should be. She walked around it, looking for the power down button on its neck. She found it an pressed it, and the droid went silent.
Charlie moved around the front of the droid next, using her fingers to search. She found what she was looking for; a removable panel above the droids right leg, and off to the side. She grabbed a fork from the leftovers of her food, and pried the panel open.
"Yes!" she whispered. Just as she'd thought. Inside was a chip, and she easily removed it. Some protocol droids had these panels, which bypassed the majority of their circuitry, deactivated their various controls over themselves, and turned them into what amount to a playback device. The chips were called playback chips. Charlie had seen one in a droid that was being used to advertise its master's wares. When it kept repeating the same thing over and over again, she'd gone to its master and told him what was going on. He'd explained the chip to her then.
"So this is why you didn't react to my movements. Someone doesn't want me know what you would say given the chance." Charlie mused out loud. She knew exactly who that someone was, and was proud she had the wherewithal to notice and check. In all of their stories, neither her aunt nor her uncle had once called the Jedi dictators. Charlie smiled to herself, thinking that Sidious would have to do better than a playback chip if he wanted to convince her. Now to hear the true story.
She reached around the droid's neck and powered it up again.
It reacted immediately "Oh hello! Oh my, what ever has happened? I do believe we've met!" The droid sounded flustered.
"Hello again!" replied Charlie brightly. "I thought you sounded recorded, so I removed a playback chip! You were telling me lies that I assume came from this chip. You're under orders to educate me on the galaxy and the Republic. Now, I need to know the truth about the Force, the Jedi, the Sith, and the Galactic Republic. Not some tin can version that your master fed you."
The droid took a moment to respond. If it could have looked affronted, it might have. "Hmph. I most certainly cannot apologize for my master, but if it is the truth you desire, it is the truth you shall get. You are quite right however, I felt the chip as it overrode my systems. There was nothing I could do. Nevertheless, you were not fooled, were you?" It might have looked pleased for a second, Charlie couldn't tell. "Well then, let me give you the education you deserve."
Charlie smiled and sat once again.
The droid began "You were captured from your home on an outer rim territory planet. Despite the lonely position of your planet, you are a citizen of the Galactic Republic. We are currently residing on Utapau, another outer rim planet of sinkholes, deserts, and underground oceans. This building is the home of my masters, Master Sidious and Master Tyranus. You've met both. They are Sith lords, and pride themselves on being in control of the dark side of the Force. Yes, milady, the Force is real, as are the Jedi and the Sith. The Jedi Temple sits on Coruscant, and in it resides the Jedi Council of 12 grand masters. It is there that Masters and Padawans train, and younglings are educated. The Jedi are heralded as the peacekeepers of the universe. I do not know too terribly much about them. The Sith and the Jedi cannot exist together, and so my master forbids any talk of them. However, I can recite their code. Would you like to hear it?"
Charlie nodded.
"Very well," replied the droid, "but I must stress interpretation. It will seem formal, restricting, and some of it will seem to go against nature. However, each Jedi is entitled to his or her own interpretation of the code, and they may choose to live as they will. They may choose their individual definitions of each word, and live by those. Do not assume anything." With that warning the droid began.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force.
Charlie thought it sounded, at first glance, beautiful. She saw why the droid would warn her against assumptions, as a lack of emotion and passion was the very thing that scared her about Tyranus. However, she felt, with certain interpretations, she could live by that code.
The droid was continuing its speech. "And that is the mantra they live by. Both the Jedi and the Sith share some characteristics, though. They are fierce warriors, and both believe they are right in their ways. Both have skill with a lightsaber and the force. However, the Sith gain their power from anger, and they are all the stronger for it. Jedi use anger as a sign that a young Padawan is turning too dark, and they must do something to stop it. They preach letting your anger flow into the force with practiced meditation. Sith have a certain disregard for life that make them fearsome enemies. Sith are not afraid to kill, while Jedi avoid it. They are peacekeepers, not deathbringers. The Sith, and I should mention that there are only two at any time, have the opposite view. They feel slighted by the Jedi, because they are technically more powerful than the council, but are ignored until they become a threat. The feeling that the Jedi are good and the Sith are bad is echoed throughout the galaxy. The Sith are treated as outcasts, and this had made them angrier as the years go by.
They need a new apprentice. Darth Maul, Master Sidious' previous apprentice, died at the hand of Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo during a battle with the Trade Federation. Maul managed to mortally wound Kenobi's Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Master Sidious, while angry at his young apprentice's death, considers the result of the Naboo battle to be a positive. Why I do not know. The queen, Padmé Amidala survived, as well as Kenobi's new apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. That battle ended five years ago. Since then, the galaxy has been quiet, but in the whispers of conversation I hear, there is some new threat brewing.
That is where you come in. My masters' interest in you stems from your power. You are neither light nor dark until you choose, and even then your power will remain. They will attempt to force you to pledge yourself to the causes of the Sith. They want you as their next apprentice. You will have enough power to be a threat to them, once you are fully trained, and I think perhaps they fear this. The Jedi, of course, also know of your existence. It is not often a child of your power is born, when they are, it creates a disturbance in the force that all trained Jedi and Sith can feel. Those marks on your arms, your ability with the Force; you are no normal human. My master has given me limited knowledge on this subject, but you, milady, are the last of the Silverstars."
Charlie sank into her chair, trying to comprehend everything that TC had just told her. She had always known about the Republic, but was more focused on her daily life than the affairs of a government that basically ignored her planet. But the Force, the Jedi and the Sith? These were fairytales come to life. And she was what? A Silverstar? What did that mean? There was too much to take in. It wasn't possible that she was anything special; she was just a normal girl from a normal family. And yet, the more she thought about, the more she realized that was a lie. Her birth, if it could even be called that, had been as far from normal as anything. The inexplicable markings on her arms, the weird new power she seemed to have, the voice she'd heard in her head, even the strange feelings from the crystal she'd been gifted.
"TC," Charlie said slowly, trying to pick one question out of the many she had, "what, exactly, is a Silverstar?"
The droid paused, as if to gather itself, and responded "I'm not sure I can answer your question, I'm afraid. Master has not told me much about them that I can remember. There might be more on the playback chip. I know that they were a group, much like the Jedi or the Sith, that existed long ago. They were powerful, enough so that they were forced out of the affairs of the galaxy for fear that any political power would allow them ultimate control. Those marks of yours, though, they clearly identify you as a Silverstar, and one has not been seen for centuries. I'm afraid all other questions about the Silverstars you will have to ask my master. I do have instructions for what you are to do next, if you would like to hear them. My master would like to begin your training as soon as possible."
But before the droid could continue, Charlie reached up and shut it off again. She replaced the playback chip, and turned the droid back on. She wanted to hear what she was sure was propaganda all the way through. She would need it if she was going to be convincing.
The droid began identically to its previous recitation, and told Charlie exactly what she expected to hear. The recording exploited all of the restricting parts of the Jedi code, and twisted words to make them sound simply bad. It described the Sith as not evil, but more powerful and wronged. Sidious' anger shone in the recorded statement, making it very easy for Charlie to see where their hatred of the Jedi stemmed from. The droid had been right. The Sith had been ignored, tossed aside, and treated as outcasts. They had taken up with the dark side of the force, and it had twisted them until they were evil beings, with no sliver of the light they once held. It, of course, made no mention of the dangers of the dark side of the force. It mentioned the Silverstars again, but gave no more information than TC previously had. Charlie sighed with frustration, and switched it off again.
She sat and thought. The Force, for that is what she assumed the power in her mind was, was calling her towards the Jedi. Her very being recoiled at the thought of become a Sith. And she taken from her family, not rejected by them. But how, when she was locked within a Sith temple, was she going to escape the two powerful masters that held her captive? A plan formed slowly, dependent on her new powers and her ability as an actor. She knew nothing of the ways of the force, but, if she was to believe TC, she had significant power to tap into. She would take her training here, for as long as she could without compromising her decision to not embrace the dark side of the force. She would not kill, she would not destroy recklessly, and she would not abandon her promise to herself. She would pretend to follow their way of thinking, pretend that she had heard the recording and only the recording, pretend that her new power had blinded her to the truth. She would be a good pupil, but she would not be a Sith. She could physically pretend, she believed, but how would she hold off the truth in her mind?
"Already know, you do. Use the Force, you will, to protect your mind."
Charlie stood up so fast the chair fell over. Where had that come from? It was the same voice in her head that she'd hear earlier. She looked around, but she was alone but for TC-14. She righted the chair and slowly sat back down. She did not get a malicious feeling from the voice, which comforted her, but rather one of wisdom and serenity. She pondered the advice it had given her. It had been right before, could it possibly be right now? She remembered her first interaction with Tyranus, and how she could feel walls around his being. She wondered if, with enough practice, she could block out certain portions of her mind from others around her. Yes, the more she thought about it, the more she was certain. This is what she would do. She could, she had to. With her power, she could protect herself, body and mind. She stood, more certain of herself than she could ever remember being, and reactivated the droid one last time.
It awoke flustered again. "Oh my, hello again milady, did I shut down accidentally? Oh, I must get that bug removed from my system. My fault. What were we talking about? Was there something you needed?"
Charlie smiled at it, happy she didn't have to explain the shutdown. It occurred to her that with the chip in, the droid didn't seem remember any of their illicit conversation. She supposed this was a good thing, as she didn't know the exact functions of the droid. Would Sidious remove the chip? Would it be forced to reveal the entirety of their conversation? Well, even with their previous conversation, Charlie had made no mention of her decision or her plan. She would just have to be a good actor.
"Yes," Charlie replied, "before you shut down you mentioned instructions for what I was to do next? I guess I have no other choice than to accept your master's proposal."
"Oh yes!" there droid said. "Once you are dressed and fed, you are to return to the master room to begin your training. I will lead you there. Are you ready?"
Charlie nodded, and stood. She threw the trash from her meal into a shoot, adjusted her utility belt before walking over to the door and opening it with a top of her finger. Together, she and the droid departed the room.
Her head had stopped aching after the shower, so she made an effort this time to remember where she was going. She would not be seduced by the dark side of the force, and Sidious discovered her plan, an attempted escape might be her Plan B. In the back of head, she knew running would be useless. For now, though, she shook the thought away. She needed to focus.
When they reached the master room, the door opened automatically. Sidious sat on this throne, Tyranus standing beside him. Both faced the window wall, studying something. They spoke in low tones, ceasing when they realized they had company. They turned to face her together, and she kept her back straight, meeting their gaze with confidence. Once again, she couldn't see Sidious' face. She hoped she would never have to.
"So, girl," Sidious spoke with the same gravelly voice as before, "has my droid done a satisfactory job educating you on our history? It is most important that you understand."
Charlie nodded. "I wish to know more about the Silverstars." she said, giving voice to her most burning question.
Sidious nodded and said "All in good time, child. You must learn how to control your power before we teach you the extent of it. In order to do that, you must train here with us. I will turn you into the most powerful Sith the galaxy has ever seen. You will become my apprentice, after Darth Tyranus, and together we will rule the galaxy with an iron fist. Disposing of those Jedi will be child's play to a fully trained Silverstar."
Charlie stared at him, feeling the malicious intent through the force. He was simply emanating evil.
"Are you giving me a choice?" she replied. "If I refuse, will you kill me?"
Sidious laughed, a sound that grated on Charlie's nerves.
"Why would you need one, my child? The Jedi deserve a fate that you will bring them. Your death would be a waste."
He was testing her, Charlie suddenly realized. He wanted to know whether or not she'd accepted the teachings of the droid. This was it. She had to convince them that she'd accepted their propaganda. She let her body relax and a slow smirk come over her face.
"Yes," she replied, "that is true, they do. I have listened to all this droid has had to tell. I want to embrace my power, and if it is under your tutelage, so be it. I will join you and together we will root the Jedi from their nests and destroy them. I embrace my power and your teachings." Now she let anger seep into her voice. "They do not deserve the position of power they've been given. They do not deserve the praise and acceptance of the people. They are uptight, stuck in their old ways, with their old teachings. They must fall, and if it is within my power, I will make it happen." She knelt then. "Let me give myself and my power to you, Master Sidious."
Sidious laughed again. "Very good! Yes, I think you will make a pupil beyond my wildest dreams. I accept you and your power. Now, rise, my young apprentice, and let us begin your training!"
Charlie stood, bowed low, and waited for further instructions. She was amazed that she'd made it through that unscathed. She laid it on thick, hoping to give the Sith Lord no reason to doubt her allegiances. She had as much of a wall as she could construct in front of the part of her rebelling completely against the dark side. She hoped anything Sidious or Tyranus saw would be cast off as residual doubt.
She felt the weapon flying towards her before she could see it, and reach a fast hand out to catch its hilt, not letting her eyes leave the two Sith standing on the dais.
"Very good, young one." said Sidious, nodding as best she could see in that full hood of his. "Do you know what that is?"
Charlie looked down at the weapon in her hands. Understanding came to her in a rush. This was a lightsaber, the fabled deadly weapon of the Jedi and the Sith. She felt for the switch that would activate it. Holding it out in front of her, she pushed. The red beam of plasma extended with a whoosh. It crackled with contained energy, and she admired the build for a few seconds.
"I can wield this." she thought to herself. "I was meant to wield this."
Suddenly, though, Tyranus was in front of her with an identical red saber, and he attacked. She managed to get her arm up in time to block his blow, her face reflecting her surprise and strain, but the force of it threw her across the room. And thus her training began.