Chapter 11 - The Creation of a Pirate (31 BBY)
They had both been at the Temple for two months before Siri got called to the Council Chambers, and honestly, they had to have been some of the best months of her life.
During the day, she continued to study, meditate, and practice with a blade, often sparring against Obi-Wan, Adi, and Kastor, and she was still utilizing Elena Shan's holocron in some of her hours dedicated to individual study. During the evenings she spent time with her friends and mentors: Garen, Bant, Kastor, Adi, Obi-Wan, young Anakin, and even managed to see Taria briefly when she came in before leaving again. She got to experience Kastor's cooking for herself and had to admit that Obi-Wan and Anakin were correct and that he was a very good cook.
After spending time with the group, she almost always ended the night with Obi-Wan sometimes alone sometimes with Anakin, Kastor, or Adi, or even Garen and Bant, whether that was at each other's places talking and enjoying a holofilm while cuddling if alone or sitting near each other if someone was with them. Sometimes they meditated in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, or simply enjoyed the sunset together at their spot on the roof, and when sure they were alone, they'd enjoy more and more passionate embraces and kisses as the weeks went by.
Despite how good things were, she knew it couldn't last forever, and honestly, she was ready for a mission. She knew Obi-Wan felt the same way. In a perfect world, and possibly some day in the future, they'd be able to find a mission to go on or be assigned together, but for now, she was content for them to go off and do their duties, knowing that they would have their time eventually, whether it was in moments of peace like this, or some hopeful day in the future when they wouldn't have to hide anymore.
She also had been expecting a mission any day now and was honestly surprised it had taken this long for the Council to call her. Adi and Kastor had been spending a lot of time together, and while they both claimed it was just Siri's Master providing Kastor with experience and wisdom in an area he was less familiar with, she was little inclined to believe them, suspecting that it was more likely a mission that they couldn't divulge to her when she was asking. Now that she was heading to the High Council Chamber, she suspected she would find out what they had been working on.
Siri reached the entrance to the Chamber, finding Kastor there waiting for her, much as she had suspected. Her eyes flashed triumphantly at him, and he rolled his eyes at her.
"Yes, yes. You're so brilliant, and we couldn't keep anything from you," he said sarcastically, and she grinned at him, and then his face turned serious. "The Council is waiting for us."
Siri nodded, and then followed him into the Council Chamber, stopping with him in the center of the circle, glancing around at all the wise and powerful Masters, seeing her own Master among them.
"Padawan Tachi, a mission we have for you, should you choose to accept," Yoda said to her, his face looking more concerned than she'd even seen.
Siri kept her face neutral, but inside she was confused. It was rare that an assignment was offered as a choice to a Padawan, especially since the mission was usually offered to the Master, not the Padawan.
"I accept whatever task you assign to me," Siri said calmly and easily.
"Do not be too hasty to accept this task before you even know what we ask of you," Ki Adi warned, and Siri felt her nerves rise slightly before she calmed herself with the Force and released her nerves.
"Of course, Master," Siri said with a bow of her head.
"A lot of you, we ask, young one," Yaddle said gravely. "Undercover, we wish you to go. For a long time, gone, you may be."
Siri listened as the Council described the pirate, Krayn, and his criminal empire which included slaving, piracy, smuggling, and spice among other things. She listened to them talk about some of the failed attempts to infiltrate his network in the past, but more importantly, she listened to how the criminal empire was growing and how something needed to be done.
"Should you accept," Windu said gravely, "You and Master Gallia will depart the Temple and covertly rendezvous with Master Shan who will help prepare you to infiltrate Krayn's organization. When the time comes, you will return after a staged botched mission where you will publicly leave the Order after an altercation between yourself and Master Gallia."
Siri felt her pulse quicken, realizing what they were asking. This was the work of a Shadow. Everyone in the Order, all of her friends, would think that she'd left them, and not only would they think that she'd left, but as she infiltrated the organization, they'd think that she'd fallen and had betrayed everything they'd stood for. Everyone would think of her as a traitor, a fallen Padawan, a dark Jedi, and they would think that until she died or succeeded.
"Upon leaving the Order, you will rendezvous with Master Shan again, and he will help provide the contacts, cover, and anything else you will need to work your way into Krayn's organization," Windu finished.
"We understand if you need some time to make your decision," Plo said in his rumbling voice.
"No, Masters," Siri said, knowing it was her duty, even if she was sad that this might be the end of her time with Obi-Wan. She would never turn a mission down, not while she knew she was capable, and certainly not because of her bond with Obi-Wan. If she did that, she'd just be proving the Council right, and she wasn't going to prove them right. "I accept the mission and all it entails."
Siri watched as the various Masters around the Council all gave her grim nods of approval, except for a few who just gave her compassionate looks of concern.
"Master Shan and Master Gallia will provide you with all the remaining information you will need. May the Force be with you," Windu said solemnly.
"May the Force be with you all," Siri replied, and then she walked out of the Council Chamber, with Kastor right behind her.
As soon as she cleared the Chamber and the gaze of the Masters, she felt her knees weaken as the gravity of her new situation weighed down on her. She felt strong arms support her, and she felt comfort as Kastor guided her over to a bench and sat her down.
"Talk to me," he said, though she didn't feel like he sounded demanding, merely compassionate and sympathetic.
She took a breath, trying to steady her nerves, trying to regain her cool collected disposition that made many think that she didn't have emotions, and she tried to think of what she wanted to say.
"I'm honored that the Council thinks that I'm capable for this mission," she started, "but the timing of it is so bad . . .'' she almost groaned. "Obi's just finally reopening up, really getting past his grief . . . and he and I . . . we just . . . we just . . . '' Siri couldn't continue, she couldn't tell Kastor that they were just now making that jump from friends to a real relationship, that they had just started taking the time, moving slowly and carefully, but deliberately onward.
"The Council accepts that you're ready, but I want you to know that you were one of only people that I felt could succeed at this mission," Kastor said firmly, and she glanced at him in surprise and her eyes widened seeing the complete trust, belief, and pride in his eyes . . . something she'd only seen rarely in anyone other than her Master's eyes. "As for you and Obi-Wan? I'm happy for you both, and while the timing could be better, that's life, and especially life as a Jedi," Kastor said a bit more softly. "The timing will rarely be perfect, and you will both often make decisions or take missions that may hurt the other. Obi-Wan will be fine. He's got Anakin to worry about, and the Force will guide him."
Siri nodded, though she still felt worried about Obi-Wan. She wasn't really worried about her own life. She was prepared to give her life in service of the Force, in service of others, and for the Jedi Order, but she knew Obi-Wan wasn't in the most stable of minds at the moment, and whether they had a bond or not, she didn't like not being there for her friend, especially one who would always be there for her.
"Trust in Obi-Wan," Kastor said, and Siri thought he was peering into her mind. "He's strong enough to make it through this without either of us, but he won't have to. You're not going undercover and leaving the Order yet, and neither am I, and even after you do go undercover, I'll still be able to check in on him . . . plus Bant, Reeft, Garen, Quinlan, Taria . . ." Kastor continued to list and she chuckled, having to admit that Obi-Wan had plenty of friends who would make sure he was okay. Kastor smiled. "I suspect even Adi will check in on him, both for you, and for herself, though I doubt she'll admit to either reason."
Siri grinned, knowing her Master did try her best at being aloof, and many of her fellow Jedi thought she was very dignified, but distant and reserved, however those closest to her knew that Adi was very kind and compassionate and that she did form bonds with her good friends whether she liked to admit it or not.
"So, what's the first step?" Siri asked, feeling her nerves settle and her cool composure return.
"We need to study Krayn's operation," Kastor replied. "We'll figure out how he operates, learn his methods, figure out what he prizes most, and find his and his organization's weaknesses. When we're ready, we'll find an opening and move you into his organization . . . well, and when that happens, it'll be mostly on you," Kastor finished a bit softly.
Siri nodded, her icy blue eyes glinting with determination. She would not fail.
*The Will of the Force*
"The Force works in mysterious ways," Obi-Wan said to her, a hint of humor in his voice.
"Oh?" Siri asked, her eyebrow raised.
"You, Kastor, and I are all getting different assignments that have us leaving at the same time," Obi-Wan said. "We had a nice break, but right as I was feeling ready for a mission, which means a whole week or two after you started feeling ready for a mission," Obi-Wan said, a knowing look in his eyes, "we're both giving a reprieve from each other before we started tearing each other's heads off."
"You mean before I tore your head off," Siri said matter of factly. "Obviously, I would have been just fine when it came time for the bitter end to our long friendship."
"Well obviously," Obi-Wan said gravely, before his eyes sparkled with mischief, "but then again . . . I don't seem to recall you winning many of our most recent duels."
Siri's eyes narrowed.
"I just wanted you to feel capable of something in front of your Padawan," Siri retorted. "Force knows that he's going to watch you stumble your way through every mission you eventually go on with him. At least now he'll be able to look back and wonder what happened to his capable Master."
Obi-Wan chuckled and his eyes rolled.
"Why I'm going to miss you, I'm sure I don't know," Obi-Wan replied dryly.
Seeing that nobody was around, Siri ducked in quickly and gave Obi-Wan a quick kiss that had him blink at her in surprise before his face turned red and he glanced around in concern, making her smirk when he looked back at her reproachfully though she could see he was fighting the part that had enjoyed the quick kiss.
"That's why," Siri said smugly.
"You're impossible," Obi-Wan responded, though he was now fighting a grin.
"Well, there's always Astri if I don't come back," Siri responded a bit louder than they'd been chatting and Obi-Wan groaned as he heard the laugh of his Padawan who had just wandered into the underground bay that Shadow's generally kept their ships in when trying to come and go from the Temple discreetly. They were both down there to say goodbye to Kastor before they went back up to the main Temple hangar to catch their own transports.
"Well, isn't this a warm send off," Kastor said with a bright smile, walking next to Obi-Wan's Padawan. "First Plo, Clee, and Vokara drag me to a farewell breakfast, and now I've got two of my favorite people waiting for me at my ship."
"Clee?" Anakin asked with a tilt of his head while Obi-Wan's jaw nearly dropped as he exclaimed, "Vokara?"
Kastor's lips twitched as he turned to Anakin. "Jedi Master Clee Rhara. An old friend of Qui-Gon's, who I befriended after he introduced us. An absolutely brilliant pilot. I'll have to introduce you next time."
Anakin's eyes widened, already looking forward to meeting someone Kastor considered a brilliant pilot, since Obi-Wan knew that Anakin held Kastor's piloting abilities in high regard. Kastor turned back to Obi-Wan.
"Yes, Vokara Che. I happen to enjoy her sharp wit, even if she does scare the absolute Force out of you," Kastor responded with a grin, and then added, "and me."
"I always knew you were insane," Obi-Wan muttered, and Siri snorted while Kastor laughed.
Obi-Wan glanced at his Padawan who was looking around the secretive hangar with interest, likely not even knowing this place existed, since Obi-Wan hadn't known it existed until Kastor revealed it. Unlike the Temple's main hangar, the ships in this one were much more varied, since it was the Jedi's undercover operation ships or personal ships that undercover Jedi had obtained in various ways.
"No sneaking down here on your midnight scavenging runs," Obi-Wan said sternly, and Anakin feigned an innocent expression, but Obi-Wan could see through it, especially with the surprise in his young Padawan's eyes, likely not realizing that Obi-Wan knew about his nightly excursions. "The Temple Guards will catch you and it won't end well for you or me."
"Understood, Master," Anakin muttered glumly.
Kastor chuckled and then winked at Anakin.
"Next time I'm back, I'll bring you down here while I work on the Ebon Hawk and certainly accept your help if you're willing."
Anakin nodded eagerly, all too willing to get his hands all over Kastor's ship and learn all about the heavily modified freighter.
"Just what I need, Master, so thanks for that," Obi-Wan muttered and Kastor grinned. "And to think I had a gift for you, but if you're going to corrupt my Padawan, I might have to return it."
"A gift?" Kastor said in confusion and Siri smiled widely knowing this would be a rare moment when Obi-Wan managed to truly surprise the time-displaced Jedi Master.
"You once provided me with a gift to help pass on knowledge, and while I am not done with Revan's holocron, the fact remains that as a Knight, I now have the privilege to take a holocron myself. While I know you would never want to hoard knowledge, I do know that the Temple has hundreds of holocrons that see little use, and this one will be no different, however," Obi-Wan's voice got softer, "it will mean quite a bit to you."
Kastor stared in wonder as Obi-Wan pulled out a holocron, one which oozed a Force presence he missed dreadfully, the presence he missed only short of one other.
"Your sister created this later in her time as Grandmaster of our Order, and I figure there are things that she could teach you beyond just holding this for sentimentality," Obi-Wan finished with a grin, enjoying the completely gobsmacked look on Kastor's face.
"I . . . Obi-Wan, thank you so much," Kastor said, finally. "This . . . this means a lot to me," he said gratefully, reverently grabbing the holocron that Obi-Wan was offering.
"You always did say that she and your wife were the only two people who could keep you in line," Siri said with a snort, while Anakin kind of stared at their group in confusion.
"That they were," Kastor said with a soft smile. "I'm not sure this holocron will quite do that," he said, his grin growing, "but my big sister was always surprising me, so maybe I'm wrong."
"Keep safe, Master," Obi-Wan said, "and may the Force be with you."
"May it be with you as well my friend," Kastor said, before he ruffled Anakin's hair, getting a half-hearted protest from the boy and then he boarded the Ebon Hawk.
Obi-Wan, Siri, and Anakin watched the ship start up and then leave before as a group they walked to the main Temple hangar where Adi was waiting for Siri near a speeder with an Antarian Ranger who would take them to the nearest public spaceport to catch their shuttle away. Nearby was a small starfighter that was waiting for Obi-Wan.
"I wish I was coming with you, Master," Anakin said sullenly.
"Not quite yet, my young Padawan," Obi-Wan replied, pulling Anakin's Padawan braid slightly, causing Anakin to jerk back and his eyes to narrow, though Obi-Wan felt the amusement start overcoming Anakin's glumness. "Someday you will be coming with me, but for now you have classes."
"Until that time that he's there to help, you watch your back," Siri said, and while he could see the collected face that Siri was a Master of holding, through their bond he could feel a small tremor, though he didn't know why, and with their location and Anakin being there, he didn't dare question her. "May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan, and you too, Anakin."
"May the Force be with you, Siri," Obi-Wan responded and Anakin echoed before Siri walked over to Adi and they boarded their ship.
Obi-Wan turned to his sullen Padawan, admittedly a bit nervous to leave him in the Temple alone. Anakin was still finding his place at the Temple, and he wasn't very familiar with many people, only really knowing his instructors and Obi-Wan's few friends, the only one that would still be in the Temple being Bant.
On the other hand, he was excited to start his first mission as a Knight in full, to figure out his worth without a Master guiding his actions. On the other hand, it also was his first mission without Qui-Gon, and that was a bittersweet feeling. Regardless of his feelings, the Council had given him a mission, and he knew Anakin would be fine and that Obi-Wan needed to control his attachment.
"Listen to your instructors and study hard, Padawan," Obi-Wan said, and Anakin nodded dutifully, though Obi-Wan could still sense the boy's sullenness. "If all goes well, I'll be back very soon."
"May the Force be with you, Master," Anakin said and Obi-Wan smiled, knowing the boy was growing on him more and more each day.
Obi-Wan climbed into the starfighter, waving at Anakin as he piloted the craft out of the hangar and he took a breath, readying himself for what should be a simple diplomatic mission to the Inner-Rim world of Sarka. Anakin would grow and improve here at the Temple. Now it was time for Obi-Wan to improve himself so that he could be the teacher and mentor that Anakin needed. He would not fail Qui-Gon.
*The Will of the Force*
(~ 9 months later)
Obi-Wan landed his starfighter back in the Temple hangar, rather glad to be home after a month-long diplomatic mission to Cato Neimoidia. He hated dealing with Neimoidians. After the Naboo Crisis, the Neimoidians were rarely cordial, though they did tend to fear him because of his defeat of the Sith warrior, even if they knew very little of the event, which meant the Council tended to assign him to deal with them.
He sighed, suspecting that having been gone for so long meant he was going to hear about something that his Padawan had done. Anakin was very fond of bending the rules and while he generally meant well and his rulebending was usually for something harmless, some of his instructors and some of the Council members were less than enthused.
He certainly longed for the days when Kastor was around to be the "Master" to "scold" them. Though, on the flip side, Kastor, being the renegade that he was, tended to let Anakin store droid parts in the Ebon Hawk and even covered for him whenever he did something that the ancient Jedi considered harmless. Obi-Wan loved when Kastor's unorthodox guidance helped him out but couldn't help but think he was getting his just dues whenever it came back to bite him.
It was later in the evening, so he didn't really expect anyone to realize he was back, including Anakin, so he really had the rest of the evening and night to enjoy a little bit of time to himself. He'd have to see if any of his friends were around. Honestly, other than Bant, whose duties as a healer kept her in the Temple more often than others, he hadn't seen much of any of his friends over the past nine months.
Quinlan and his Padawan, Aayla, had been at the temple for a short time before leaving on a mission to Ryloth, and he hadn't heard anything about them since. Reeft had been nearly permanently in the Outer Rim. He'd seen Garen a few times, but his good friend had been on a long-term mission in the Mid-Rim. It seemed Jedi were being called more and more for missions, and unfortunately, the missions seemed to be getting more and more dangerous.
He'd only seen Siri once in the past nine months, and he was getting worried for her. She and Adi seemed to be investigating spice smugglers and the last time he'd seen her, a little over a month ago, she'd seemed down and unsure of herself, something that was very uncommon for her. They hadn't had much time for him to try and get her to open up before they'd both been sent back out. He was hoping that Kastor might be able to help them, since Obi-Wan knew that the time-displaced Jedi had his hand in all types of smuggling operations.
His thoughts stopped when he felt through his Master-Padawan bond that Anakin was distressed, confused, and hurt. Obi-Wan hurried from the hangar following the bond to its source where he found his Padawan in their quarters with Bant, the latter of whom looked sad while trying to comfort his Padawan.
"What's happened?" Obi-Wan asked, a bit concerned at the emotions coming off of the two of them.
"M-Master!" Anakin exclaimed, but rather than relief, Obi-Wan's apprentice looked even more apprehensive, and Bant's face fell further.
"I-it's . . ." Bant fumbled before she sighed. "It's Siri."
Obi-Wan felt his blood run cold as he reached for their bond, feeling it distant and blocked, but still present.
"What about Siri?" Obi-Wan asked, rather dreading the answer.
"She returned with Master Gallia from a mission to Kessel earlier today," Bant said, and Obi-Wan frowned, confused at what the issue was. "The mission . . . well it didn't go well, and after they got done with the Council, Master Gallia and Siri had a huge blowout."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened in shock. Siri and Adi had a fantastic relationship, one of the stronger Master-Padawan duos in the Order. He'd always been a bit jealous of them in his earlier days with Qui-Gon and was especially jealous of them when compared to his bond with Anakin. Plus, Siri was very by the books for the most part, one of his few complaints about her was that she was sometimes too by the books. What could have happened?
"Well, basically," Bant continued a bit nervously, a bit sadly, "Master Gallia has decided to not continue training Siri and has not recommended her for Knighthood. Siri obviously didn't take that well."
Obi-Wan felt his body grow cold again, not really believing what Bant was saying. Siri was on the cusp of Knighthood, like Obi-Wan had been. Her ascension to Knighthood had seemed more like a formality at this point. No wonder she hadn't taken it well. How could Adi have been so cruel? He knew they cared about each other, having their own bond that pushed the boundaries of the Code.
"Where's Siri?" Obi-Wan asked, finally making the leap to Anakin's nervousness and Bant's sadness.
"She left," Bant said with a sigh. "She said she was done with the Order . . . done with all of us, and she just left."
Obi-Wan turned away, grabbing his comlink intent on finding her. If she left the temple just a bit earlier, she can't have made it too far . . . especially if she didn't have anything. What was she going to do? Obi-Wan pushed through the Force into their bond, getting a sense of her on the planet, but otherwise, she was doing her best to hide from him.
"Siri, come in," Obi-Wan said through the holocommunicator, using their private channel. "Siri answer me, please," Obi-Wan said again after a few moments.
He was beginning to think she was going to ignore him when finally, he heard her voice.
"It's too late Obi," Siri's sad voice came through their channel as her face appeared, and he could see her fighting back tears. "I'm done. I can't do this anymore."
"Siri, what Adi did was cruel, but you can still be a Jedi," Obi-Wan pleaded, stopping in his place. "You know Kastor will take you on and recommend you for the trials. This doesn't have to be the end."
"No, I've made up my mind," she replied, a bit shakily, but with some steel in her tone. "I'm sorry Obi-Wan. I'll always love you, but this is goodbye. Don't try to find me."
With those last words, the comlink went dead and she disappeared and Obi-Wan just stared at the blank comlink not truly comprehending the loss he was about to feel.
*The Will of the Force*
Siri stared at her comlink, tears already slipping down her face when strong arms guided her over to a bench.
"Hey, it's going to be okay," Kastor said soothingly. "This isn't easy, but someday he'll know the truth. Everyone will."
"I just . . . I just didn't know how hard that would be," Siri said, a bit choked up, knowing now everyone she knew and respected, save for Adi, Kastor, and the Council, thought she had just quit the Order in disgrace. Her best friend and the person she loved most now thought she was leaving him and never coming back.
Kastor pulled her into a hug and she completely dropped her cool facade and embraced him, letting the tears flow as Kastor rubbed her back and said the occasional comforting word.
Finally, feeling a bit better, Siri pulled back, a bit embarrassed, but only saw kindness and understanding from Kastor.
"It does get easier. This mission will be the hardest," Kastor said with a sigh, "but after this, Obi-Wan will have learned how to truly let you go, but also how much he'll want to treasure you being around, just as you him. Besides, should you ever need to go undercover like this again, I'm pleased and also afraid to say that you are unlikely to fool him again," Kastor finished with a smile.
"It's really nice that you're definitely the voice of experience," Siri admitted, nodding, knowing that it was time to trust in the Force, focus on the mission, and hope for the best in the future.
"Definitely? Are you calling me old?" Kastor said, his eyes narrowing, and Siri felt her spirits rise.
"Of course I am, dad," she remarked and felt satisfaction at the shock in Kastor's face, and she put on a confused look. "What? Don't you approve of my cover? I thought it was a good way to explain why I joined your crew," she said innocently.
"I'm not old enough to be . . ." Kastor started to protest, but then stopped, likely doing the math and realizing that he was in fact old enough.
"I believe you are twenty years older than me," Siri said with a grin, knowing she had him, and he probably was quite touched at her going for this cover, even if he definitely didn't like the implication that he was old.
"Oh, kriffing hell," Kastor muttered, his eyes narrowing at her, though she could see his lips twitching towards a grin. "Fine! Alright, we'll play up on you being my daughter that I didn't know about who tracked me down. Thanks for adding deadbeat father to my resume."
Siri laughed, definitely feeling a bit better, even if she knew this next challenge was going to push her to the limits.
"Let's get to the controls and get out of here," Kastor said. "I've already got a job for us smuggling weapons to Mandalore. The Duchess is starting to crack down on what weapons reach her system, though I hear she's facing a lot of resistance."
"I can't believe we're smuggling weapons to Mandalore," Siri muttered as she followed him to the controls of the Ebon Hawk, taking the copilot's chair.
Kastor laughed. "Neither can I. Regardless, we have money to make and a long way to go. We'll need to disguise you," Kastor said. "It's time for you to start looking like the miscreant daughter of a notorious smuggler that you're supposed to be. We'll pick up some supplies to dye your hair and get you a change of clothes, but you'll want to think of something else that really makes it hard for people to see you as Siri Tachi, the ex-Jedi Padawan."
"I've already thought of that," Siri said with a smirk, and then focused on the Force, and used it to weave an illusion and alter parts of her body.
Kastor's eyes widened in surprise as Siri had dark tattoos start appearing over her face and then just to push it and give him an idea of what she was going for, she had her blonde hair turn red and her robes turn into a leather body-suit.
"Well, well, well, someone's been learning from my wife," Kastor said, sounding impressed, and Siri felt pride knowing that altering one's image with the Force was extremely difficult and few even bothered to learn the skill, especially since facial reconstructive machines weren't terribly difficult to come by. She knew Kastor, despite being very gifted with Force Illusions, had never Mastered this technique.
"So, do you think this will do?" Siri asked, once she'd completed her alterations.
"I think that will do perfectly," Kastor said, nodding in approval. "Did you finally settle on a name?"
"Yes, my name's going to be Zora."