WELCOME TO THE STORYTELLER!

A big welcome goes out to Cozmo, aka THE STORYTELLER for joining our Pitiful Little Band of writers and artists!

Cozmo is the author of "EXILE (or How I Learned to Speak Beyond Death) which I posted a few days ago.

He has his own ongoing saga "Life During Wartime" which is a good read!

Since he's accepted my invitation to join, he'll be posting his own sequels... LOL

Welcome!

A Galaxy Apart

Author: Arwen Skywalker
Title: A Galaxy Apart
Disclaimer: I don’t own Star Wars, just the plot and oc’s
Rating: G
Summary: A mother deals with the loss of her Jedi baby.
Author’s note: This idea has intrigued me for a while now, what was it like for the families who said good-bye to their Jedi children? So I wrote about it.
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Taan Morehn stared out the window of her home. Today was a day she had dreaded for 3 months, a day when realization hit home fully; the realization that she would never see her baby again. She turned in her chair, distracted for a moment by her children’s voices, the voices of her other four children in the playroom with their father. Lean, 10, Faden, 7, Coreen, 5, and little Seran, 3, were playing with her husband of 13 years, Wahne Morehn, allowing her some time alone. Her baby would be two today, no, she corrected herself, little Aendi was two today. Taan wondered if they did anything to mark a child’s birthday.

She sighed as her thoughts turned to them. The Jedi, who had shown up at her door, telling her that her baby was force-sensitive, convincing her husband that it would be best to give baby Aendi to them to train as a Jedi. Sweet little Aendi had just turned 18 months old and was taking her first runs by herself. She couldn’t agree; she couldn’t make herself believe the Jedi’s reasons. How does a mother give up her child, knowing she may never hear word of her again? Taan wanted to teach Aendi to read, to write, to swim, as she had done with her three oldest, and would soon do with Seran. Added to her bitterness was the knowledge that she couldn’t have another baby. Not that any number of babies, no matter how sweet, could replace Aendi.

She grieved the loss of her baby, for though not truly dead, still Aendi was dead to her at least. Unless she made on the holo news some day, Taan would never hear of her again. It was hard to bear, and hard to understand. Surely there must be a different, better way, than to tear babies from parents. Orphans perhaps were better off in the Temple, but those who had parents who loved them should be with their parents. Of course, she thought to her self wryly, the Jedi know best, they always do. It’s what is taught to them from the cradle, and told to the rest of the galaxy. But still unfair, no matter how she tried to be resigned. Her baby was turning two without her.

************************

Each year the sadness came and went with the passing of Aendi’s birthday. Aendi’s parents did not forget her, and so neither did her siblings, though they knew nothing of her life. They still thought of her fondly, she was after all their baby sister. Many plays depicting Jedi were enacted with Lean or Coreen taking their sister’s part, while brothers Faden and Seran played her master or friends or bad guys, depending on what was necessary.

**************************

Over the years Aendi did make it onto the news a few times, minor bits about a diplomatic victory, or the settling of a dispute between countries on various worlds. Taan saved whatever holographs she could, wishing that she could hear her baby speak. But padawans spoke to reporters even less than did Knights and Masters, so her wish went unanswered.

**************************

The galaxy was becoming restless. There were two sides to every argument now, Separatist and Republic. Taan watched as her planet wavered between to allegiances. The Holo news stayed on at all hours, the latest news was bound to be important, even if discouraging. Taan knew her baby was now a Jedi Knight; a news report had dubbed her as such.

One day 23-year-old Seran ran into the kitchen and told her to watch what was on the Holo. Taan and her husband quickly ran into family room, where the news was playing a breaking report: war had begun. The three of them listened to the Chancellor’s speech, and the report of a fierce battle on Geonosis between droids, clones and Jedi. Taan grew pale hearing that many Jedi were killed. After all these years, she still loved Aendi as if she had raised her herself. Please, Taan begged the Force; don’t let my baby be dead.

Two days later the news had a death toll for the first battles of the Clone War, as it was now dubbed, including the Battle of Geonosis. More than an hundred Jedi dead. As the names scrolled down Taan caught her breath and started to sob. There on the screen for the galaxy to see, Aendi Morehn. Her baby was dead. And for what, Taan asked the screen bitterly, as the report switched to an overview of the fighting, which had spread rapidly in just a few days. It was not the last time she would ask the same question, as the entire galaxy was covered in war.

Her only consolation came two and an half years later, when an Empire was formed on the blood of the Jedi. Then Taan was grateful for her daughter’s death. Aendi was at peace, and wasn’t there when the Temple was purged, as the self-titled Emperor proclaimed; a bitter consolation to be sure. Her daughter had done her part for the galaxy, and Taan was proud. Now she would do her part. A rebellion was already underfoot on her home world, not surprising when Mon Mothma was senator of their system. No one would make her Aendi’s death pointless and get away with it.

EXILE by THE STORY TELLER

Exile (or How I Learned to Speak Beyond Death)

by Ben Kenobi, as told to Vynn Cavira

I can manipulate the very fibers that bind the galaxy together with my bare hands.

I can run like the wind.

Many are the beings that have fallen by my hand.

But now the tables have turned.

Hunted by a man I loved as a brother, I have chosen exile, ere I meet my end at his blade, the colour of the setting suns of Tatooine.

Tatooine is an interesting place. The winds and sands of time ensure that radical change finds no home here. In fact, it hasn’t changed a bit since the day I landed there with my…with an old friend…so many years ago. I was so young and so naïve.

So naïve.

These days I have no visitors. Nobody wants to see crazy old Kenobi. They’re afraid that I’m going to use magic to brainwash them or something like that. If they knew me, and if they had the merest idea of why I’m in hiding, they would know that I want no such thing. Owning land to farm means responsibility. Right now I have but one responsibility, and that is to prepare myself for the future.

The local farmers are alright. Well, most of them, anyway. An old farmer by the name of Waris Venn decided to start calling me “Ben,” saying that it was easier on the memory than “Obi-Wan.” This suited me fine, as his suggestion is more innocuous than my own name. And I know I’m not the only Kenobi in the Galaxy.

I see the farmers every now and then, when I decide to travel in to town for a drink and to keep up on local gossip. But the majority of my life is spent in solitude. So I spend my waking hours preparing. For what?

For the day the Boy becomes a Man and starts down the path of destiny. I must pass on to him everything I know. I know right now he would not understand. He is young, and his uncle won’t allow me near him. I can’t say I blame Owen, after all, he is all too aware of who the Boy’s father has become. I have great faith in young Luke. I had great faith in his father as well. I wish I’d told him as much.

Oh, I know it’s fruitless and futile, but I can’t help thinking about my time as Anakin’s master and wishing beyond hope that I could go back and do things differently. I was so focused on training him the way Qui-Gon would have done it that I was blind to what my young Padawan needed. He needed gentle guidance, encouragement, trust. All he got was criticism and unnecessary comments from an immature teacher. I loved him, and I know he saw me as a father. He even told me as much. But I, like the rest of the Jedi Council, became so forward-looking that I forgot to pay attention to what was going on right in front of me.

I will not repeat that failure. By all that is the Force, I swear it.

A Still Moment in a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Shaggy-Fett

"I love you!"
"I know."

So begins a relationship that leads to a marriage and the grandchildren of Darth Vader (or Anakin Skywalker, however you'd like to look at it.)

We all know these iconic words. As Han is lowered into the carbon-freeze pit, Leia desperately shouts out her cry of love. Han responds as only he can with a cool, "I know." But before all this happened, something interesting happened slightly to the right of this image.

This image shows many of the major players of the saga. Han, Leia, Chewie, 3P0, and Lando are all featured here. This shows the our gang of heroes (minus one certain whiner and everyone's favorite barrel chested astromech) right before Han is frozen in carbonite and handed over to Boba Fett. This image should tear at my heart strings. Make me feel anguish the fact that not until the next movie will the gang be reunited! Instead, it makes me wonder just exactly what everyone is looking at.

What it really reminds me of is a certain family portrait of my very own family. I was about ten years old and my family went to take our annual photo at JC Penny's. In one of the shots that was taken, something happened next to the camera that everyone looked at but kept on smiling. It was like we all forgot where the camera was.

Something similar seems to have happened here. I imagine this Imperial photographer trying to get a nice shot for the Imperial Post of the traitorous rebel leaders and then Darth Vader had to go and do something fancy with the Force that made all of his subjects look away from the camera. And it is widely known that Imperial journalists are only allowed one photo per event or else their camera will blow up (for security purposes). So this unnamed journalist has to go to his boss with this photo, and probably got fired for wasting his one shot. One of the biggest moments in the history of the Empire, and this guy couldn't even get a shot of everyone looking at the camera. For shame.

I feel really bad for C-3P0 though. I mean, not only does he have to ride on Chewie's back throughout the entire event, he's forced to look in the opposite direction of whatever is going on. He didn't even get to see whatever Vader did that distracted our rebel heroes. And Lobot is just chillin' in the background like a good little cyborg. He looks like the kid who tries to make it into as many high school club photos as possible. He just sneaks in there at the last second and stands there like he belongs. You have the rebel heroes, stormtroopers and.......Lobot. He just doesn't belong there with the big dogs.

In conclusion, this still moment in a galaxy far, far away shows us not only the scene of a strong confession of love, but also the importance of making sure there are no distractions when trying to take a photo. Especially if the punishment is termination...literally.

Shaggy Fett

A Still Moment in a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Oboe-Wan

It's been a while since I've blogged about the Galaxy Far, Far Away, so forgive me if I'm a bit rusty here...

I was 3 years old when a movie simply titled "Star Wars" hit the big screen in 1977. I saw it something like 6 times in the theater because everyone wanted a "kid" with them when they went to see it. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that this film shaped a large part of who I am: the dreamer inside of me.

When I was 3, my favorite characters were R2-D2 and C-3PO. I looked up to Princess Leia but not the way I would 3 years later when Empire Strikes Back blasted in to my life. And it would be 6 more years before my pre-teen crush on Luke Skywalker reared its ugly head. Part of the reason the droids captured my imagination as a toddler was the whole "robot-thing." Back in the olden days, there weren't computers in every house, telephones had cords & rotary dials and we actually wrote letters on actual stationery and used stamps and a mailbox!!

But here were these two shiny robots - something beyond the wildest imaginings of my young existence. They seemed to have feelings, fears & conversations. They found themselves in the middle of a civil war, not truly understanding their role in what would eventually be the destruction of the most sinister, powerful & evil government in the history of the universe. Even as a little kid, I knew something big was going to happen - how could it not? Did you see how shiny C-3PO was?

Simply put, when Obi-Wan stumbles across the rocks into the Jundland Wastes to save Luke, so entered my understanding that not everything is as it seems. I remember that rush of fear: who was that coming toward R2D2? Was he good or bad? Friend or foe? He's wearing a dark hooded cloak and had made a really scary noise, would he finish the job the Sand People couldn't on Luke? It's an exhilarating moment, one which I do try to trick myself into reliving every time I pop the "Star Wars" DVD into my player. That innocence of not knowing what was going to happen.

These days, this moment has even more weight knowing what we know now thanks to the PT. Obi-Wan is one of the greatest Jedi to ever live. He could have defeated Anakin on Mustafar if it weren't for his darn sense of mercy. Although, leaving your friend to burn on a lava floe seems less merciless than running him through. But, like another wise wizard said, it's not for us to say who should live and who should die. Obi-Wan paid for his choice for years, but in the end was able to help the story to its conclusion with his own death.

As Obi-Wan stumbles into R2's line of sight, we know he can't be someone sinister or wicked. Evil villains usually walk with much more confidence. Even someone like Han Solo walks with a swagger that I imagine wouldn't be hampered by a stroll over Tattooine's rocky terrain. So here comes Obi-Wan, an old man, seemingly frail & comedic, yet he hides a dark secret and a deadly purpose. It's no mistake that he was there to rescue Luke, he was trailing him all along. In fact, all his life! It's time to approach Luke, win his trust & thrust him head first into his destiny.

Perhaps his uneven gait is an outward manifestation of his unease about dragging Luke in to the war? Is this truly the right time to approach him? According to the NPR radio plays, Obi-Wan had rescued Luke once before, they had brief contact then. So what makes this meeting so different? It's likely that Obi-Wan could sense Leia's distress in the space above Tattooine. She speaks of her "mission" involving him as if this was prearranged and he was expecting her. If this is true, then when he looked to sky to see the laser-exchange and then did not receive Leia on time, he knew it was time to get Luke.

This image is Obi-Wan coming out of his seclusion, his hermit life, teetering on the brink of "crazy old wizard" and "Jedi Knight, same as your father". For him, it is just as powerful as it is for the those watching his approach (droids & human movie goers) - which will he be from here on out?

The excitement of the moment can get lost after countless viewings of the movie. But I challenge you: the next time you watch Episode IV, forget everything you know & just feel the excitement of a dark cloaked figure, moving through the shadows...

A Still Moment in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

"This little one isn't worth the effort. Come let me buy you something…"

Old Ben was only trying to protect arguably the most important Jedi of all time – who wouldn’t resort to a little witty negotiating at a time like this? And this moment in time – this still moment from a galaxy far, far away – affected the whole Star Wars universe. In fact, I propose that it was the most important moment in the saga. No—really!

When Luke left the Lars’ homestead, he was ready to become a Jedi. "There’s nothing left for me here now," he told Ben. Once in Mos Eisley, however, his world began to change. "You’ve taken your first steps into a larger world. . ."

Bullied by Dr. Evazan at the Cantina bar, Luke immediately showed he was cool under pressure. He didn’t panic & he didn’t try to engage the situation. He just turned back to his drink. The Force, however, nudged old Ben to stay alert. Obedient as ever, Ben listened. He stood up for Luke. He treated him protectively – parentally. Luke’s reaction was both surprised and defensive – he was ready to fight his own battles! – he didn’t need old Ben!. . .but the situation quickly turned. Ben’s response was swift and precise. His skill with the lightsaber amazed Luke. It entranced him.

This was a turning point for Luke. Certainly losing his Aunt & Uncle was a critical moment. And Ben had introduced him to the lightsaber once before back at his dwelling in the deserts of Tatooine. But this moment was Luke’s first glimpse of what it meant to be a Jedi. Of what it meant to sense danger; to be provoked; to try "aggressive negotiations;" and to defend the innocent. It was the concrete embodiment of his new vocation.

Most persons who are gifted with a special talent remember their first association with that talent. Mary Lou Retton might remember her first summersault, Warren Buffet might remember his first sale and Peyton Manning might remember the first time he held a football. This was that moment for Luke. The "a-ha!" moment. If they had not walked into that bar and been provoked, if Ben had not drawn his saber and if Luke had not been entranced by the moment, then things might have gone differently in the GFFA.

What’s that? I can hear you! Go ahead. Admit it. Shout it out. "That’s crazy talk!" "I can name at least 100 other Star Wars moments that were more critical than this. . .!" "This is nothing, a passing moment, a fleeting scene."

Well – you’re right. And you’re wrong.

The point is – the point is – that EVERY moment is a turning point. Every moment is a moment we decide to move forward into the great adventure or go back to the burned-out homestead. At that moment on Mos Eisley, many decisions were made. Luke could’ve provoked the man. Ben could’ve ignored the will of the Force. The patrons could’ve joined the fray. Luke could’ve been appalled at Ben and walked out. Luke could’ve become afraid and run away. Ben could’ve felt too old. Solo & Chewbacca could’ve been watching from their table and decided to leave. Luke could’ve been killed. . .

Every moment, every decision has a cause and effect that we can’t even begin to imagine. To me, this is what the Star Wars saga is about – making decisions. The "how" and the "why" of the decision making process are left to us. Are we pawns in a game? Or do we control our own destinies? Do we live in the "here and now?" Or do we look to the future at the "expense of the moment?" Do we calm ourselves and wait patiently or do we embrace our passions?

*psst!* You! Yeah, you – the reader! Come here! I’ll let you in on a little secret – Lucas gave us the answer about choice. Anakin at one point bemoans his fate stating: "I have no choice." That statement was his downfall. He did have a choice – he just didn’t want to accept it. His redemption – and ours – can occur only when we embrace this realization. Every moment – every decision counts!

This message about choice is so important and so incredibly relevant to our times. We all need to consider the choices we make and how they reach out exponentially into the expanded universe. We need to see a drink at a bar as an opportunity. This does not mean we must stress over every single moment. It means we need to prepare ourselves; to learn to balance our intelligence and our passions; to learn to be mindful of the future, but live in the here and now. A difficult task, at best – but this is the challenge of our lives – isn’t it?

The moment in time embodied by Ben, Luke & a drunk at a bar could’ve been absolutely nothing at all. Or, it could’ve been everything. What can we learn from this? Hopefully, we can learn to prepare, to listen, to balance intellect with emotion, to be aware of future consequences, but to embrace the moment. Or, we could simply learn this: when a Jedi offers to buy you a drink – take him up on the offer – or it might be a moment you live to regret!

A Still Moment in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Subtitled: Ramblings born of translucence and math.


I sit here in math class, bored to death, (factoring polynomials, jeez) and thinking about how I need to write this blog. I keep putting it off. Bad. I'm also putting off my pre-pro for my final. Bad to the tenth. Anyway. Have nothing better to do, so, here goes. Steel yourselves.
My still is from the Outrider scene in AOTC. I've always found the scene interesting, lots of shiny in it, lots to catch your eye. It is a sample of Coruscant middle-class in a way, condensed. I've always meant to freeze frame through the scene so I could get a better look at the aliens and such, but I haven't. To be perfectly honest, I haven't seen any SW 'cept youtube vids in I-don't-know_how_many_months now, what have I become?
Had I gone through the scene in this way I would have eventually gotten to this scene, and would have stood there with good ol' Ani and Obi saying "nekkid butts, my eyes, my eyes!" C'mon, you think they weren't like "wooow"? I'm thinking Jedi weren't acustumed to hanging out in semi-sleezy bars, or to seeing mostly nekkid women-alien-things. (Does the Jedi Temple have a fully stocked bar? What does Yoda like to drink?) Obi drinks something very blue in this scene if I recall correctly, so I'm guessing drinks-that-make-you-blind weren't on the Code's list of no-nos.
Having made the astute observation that the ladies were scantily dressed, (gotta love the word "scantily"), I turn my attention to Ani's face. Can't see Obi's-(he's looking, you know he's looking). What do think Ani was thinking, rabid hormonal boy that he was? Perhaps he was only thinking of Padme, but I say bah! to that. He was checking 'em out! Cuz you know what, they are guys. Code or no Code. (BTY, can you just see Mace saying "the code's more what you'd call "guidlines"...rofl). Even if Obi-wan was being a good boy, Ani wasn't. So what is the Temple's stance on the Act itself? No attachments, but go have fun? Technically , in my opinion, it's very hard to conceive that none of the several thousand beings in the Temple ever went and "had fun", and these were beings who were brought up to be the absolute end in virtue and caring and love, you can't tell me many of them were even capable of "doing it" without any attachments. Imagine a world without attachments, what point is there in living?
Attachments are formed regardless of any "Code", what of the Master-padawan attachment? What of the attachment of the Jedi to the Republic? Hey, what of the attachment to the Code? That was some serious attachment going on! "No attachments", what stupidness. It was the Council's Attachment with a capital A to the code that got the Jedi killed. So, the Jedi's rule against attachments was an oxymoron from the very start. What a twisted world they lived in.
Well, I'm out of time for the moment, gotta go. The moral to my story, is attachments are everywhere. Cherish your attachments, and let them make you strong.
Would I change anything in the still? Naw, nekkid butts are funny. Ta!

Part 2 - Padawans

PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3 - PART 4 - PART 5 - PART 6 - PART 7 - PART 8 - PART 9 - PART 10 - PART 11 - PART 12 - PART 13 - PART 14 - PART 15 - PART 16


Obi-Wan lay in his bunk, trying to hide his feelings from the other younglings in the Temple. He'd lost his last chance to be chosen as a Padawan, and Yoda had ordered him to the agricultural corps. He was a failure.

He heard the sound of his door opening, and the footsteps of bare feet on his floor as his best friend Traelyn appeared at his side, wrapped in a blanket.

"Obi-Wan?" she said softly. "Are you all right? I felt you crying."

"I wasn't crying, I'm too old for that," he replied with a sniffle. "Where were you after dinner? I couldn't find you anywhere."

"I'm restricted to my room again," she said glumly as she sat down on the floor beside the bed.

"Did you have another argument with Master Yoda?" he asked in dismay. "What was it this time?"

"You," she said. "I wanted to come to you and he wouldn't let me. He doesn't understand, I knew you were upset, I just wanted to help."

Obi-Wan gave a sigh. After many lectures about the dangers of attachment, Yoda had finally given up and forbidden the two younglings from being alone together. It wasn't fair, they complained, the other children were allowed to be friends. But there was something about Traelyn and Obi-Wan that disturbed the wizened old Master.

"In her room I do not wish to find you again, young Obi-Wan," Yoda had said. "Old enough you are to know why."

Obi-Wan had blushed with embarrassment. Yes, he had felt the urges of his budding manhood, but his love for Traelyn was not like that, it was pure, it was what he imagined having a little sister would be like. "Master, Traelyn is just a child, she is only ten. We are like family, and she needs me."

"The Jedi your family are. Learn to handle her feelings on her own, she must. A strong attachment you two have, against the code that is, and unwise. You are not to be alone together again. The same thing, tell her I will."

"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan. Perhaps if you were not my friend Master Yoda would like you better," she said sadly. "He is sending you away, isn't he?"

"I'm leaving the Temple tomorrow," he said. "But you know Master Yoda does not judge us according to how much he likes us."

"You always think the best of everyone, Obi-Wan. He wasn't even going to let us say good-bye. We may never see each other again."

"Yes, we will," Obi-Wan replied. "I'll be back here, you'll see."

Traelyn wrapped her blanket more tightly around her, and tucked her bare feet into the legs of her pajamas. "Or I'll be sent away, too, when I'm thirteen. I'll never get chosen as a Padawan."

"Master Qui-Gon might choose you," Obi-Wan said. "He likes you a lot."

"I thought he would choose you," she said. "But I heard him tell Yoda he won't take another Padawan. Something bad happened to his last one, but I don't know what. He says he's not ready for another."

"He's waiting for you." Obi-Wan slid over and pulled the blankets back. "Here, get under the covers, you must be freezing down there on the floor."

She slipped into the narrow bed and snuggled up next to Obi-Wan. "We'll get in trouble if we get caught here," she said.

"I can't get into any more trouble than I already am, and neither can you," he said with a wry chuckle.

"We'll find a way to be Jedi, Obi-Wan. Don't give up."

"I won't give up, but if we don't become Jedi by the time we're grown up, we'll get married, and live together."

"Okay,” she said innocently. “I think I'd like that." She turned over and they went to sleep, cuddled together back to back like baby gundarks in a nest.

* * *

For three days Traelyn hid in her room, and without Obi-Wan in the Temple, no one came to look for her. His absence was like a hole in her heart, and she sensed his distress across the long distance that separated them. She cried and slept, and cried some more.

Finally, on the fourth day, Qui-Gon went to Yoda. "Where is Traelyn?" he asked. "She missed dueling practice again. That's not like her at all. Is she ill?"

Yoda looked thoughtful for a moment, almost as if he hadn't noticed her absence until that moment. "I do not know, Qui-Gon. In her room, perhaps she is, or in one of her hiding places. Pouting, she is, no doubt, over young Obi-Wan's departure." Yoda turned back to his class.

Qui-Gon nodded and left. Master Yoda's callousness towards Traelyn was a thorn in his side, he did not understand it at all. Yoda was the fairest of all the masters, and his dislike of Traelyn was a mystery. It was almost as if he sensed something about her that he couldn't identify, and it frightened him.

Traelyn's room was dark, and Qui-Gon found her buried beneath the covers of her bunk. Hollow cheeked and with swollen red eyes, she looked as if she hadn't moved in days. There was a frightening lack of emotion about her, as if she'd shut herself off from the Force.

Wrapping her in a blanket, he carried her to the infirmary. Jeran, the Master Healer, took one look at her and immediately ordered intravenous fluids for her, and began to reach into her body and mind with touches of the Force, looking for the source of her illness.

"There's nothing physically wrong with her, Qui-Gon," Jeran said after he finished his examination. "Other than dehydration, and weakness from hunger. But her emotional state concerns me."

Traelyn opened her eyes and looked around the room, as if she didn't realize where she was. "Obi-Wan?" she whispered. "Master Qui-Gon?"

Qui-Gon took her by the hand. "Traelyn, what is it?"

"Obi-Wan's hurting!" she said. "I can't go to him to help." Tears ran down her face. Master Jeran placed a hand on her head, and soothed her with healing touches, and she went back to sleep. A puzzled look came over his face for a moment, and then a look of anger.

"This child is empathic!" he stated. "Why wasn't I told? Master Yoda should have noticed years ago!"

Qui-Gon looked shocked, and then turned away. "I should have known, too," he said quietly. "Her mother was empathic."

"Empathy and Force sensitivity together are very rare," Jeran said. "Is it possible her father was a Jedi?" He looked at Qui-Gon questioningly. "You brought her here as an infant, and you knew her mother. Is there something else you ought to tell me?"

"No one must know," Qui-Gon replied. "The council would not allow her to stay here if they knew. I cannot take her back to Locaria, her family doesn't want her, they're afraid of her. I will take her as my Padawan if necessary to protect her."

"I will take her," Jeran replied. "She will make a fine healer. We can put that empathy to good use. And I will keep your secret, old friend."

Qui-Gon sighed with relief. "She is bright enough for university, you know. If you were to take over her education, that is."

"I would have done that years ago, if I'd known. I will go before the council and arrange it. She will be safe with me."

* * *

Traelyn recovered quickly from her depression under Master Jeran's care. Although she was very young to be a Padawan, the Master Healer had gotten his own way with the Council, as he usually did when it came to matters they did not understand. Yoda even came to visit her in the infirmary, and his apology to her was genuine, and did much to thaw her heart towards the old master.

Master Jeran, although not empathic himself, learned ways to deal with her empathetic reactions to others, and began teaching her how to accept and embrace her feelings, and to follow them back to their source instead of hiding from them. After only two weeks she was able to help diagnose an illness in a baby who was too young to communicate, and this encouraged her towards learning the ways of Jedi healing.

After a month of recovery, she returned to her classes with the other younglings. On her first morning back, Digeeta, who had been her caregiver when she was young, came to her at breakfast and plaited her Padawan braid. The older woman had tears of pride in her eyes as Traelyn scampered off to her classes happier than she'd been since she was five.

The only flaw in her life was the absence of Obi-Wan, but he was out traveling the galaxy as Qui-Gon's apprentice, and his happiness and excitement did much to soothe Traelyn's loneliness.

* * *

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan returned to the Temple often, and the young people were able to visit with each other during these respites. Yoda still watched them with a wary eye, but said nothing, as each Padawan was now the responsibility of his or her own Master.

By the time Traelyn was 16, she had finished her basic education and excelled on her entrance examinations to Coruscant University's Medical College.

Then one day Obi-Wan came home from a mission with his emotions is turmoil. He'd become infatuated with another Padawan, and he was uncertain of his future. Traelyn listened to his story and patted his hand in sympathy, while a tendril of jealousy began to tickle the back of her consciousness.

"She wants us to go away together," he said.

"You are uncertain of your feelings, Obi-Wan, I can sense it. Be cautious you don't make any decisions in haste. Decisions that you may regret and that cannot be undone. You were meant to be a Jedi, I cannot see you as anything else."

"Neither can I, but I have these feelings..."

"Perhaps it's just lust. Have you been to a companion lately?"

Obi-Wan flushed deeply. "What do you know of companions?" he asked.

"Stars end, Obi-Wan, I'm studying medicine and the healing arts, you think I don't know anything about human sexuality?"

He composed himself. "I heard you were attending the University, aren't you awfully young for that?"

He still thinks of me as a child! She thought. "Yes, I am a lot younger than the other students, but they don't know that and they respect me because I'm Jedi. And you should respect my opinion, as your friend if nothing else. Give it much thought, and consult with Master Qui-Gon, he is very wise, you know. And very understanding."

* * *

The seed of jealousy in Traelyn grew and for three days her anger at Obi-Wan simmered just beneath the surface. She was irritable and short-tempered, and finding no physical cause for it, Master Jeran sent her to meditate. But she could only brood, and her anger frightened her. I can't do this, it's a path to the dark side. I have to fight it.

Ironically, it was Obi-Wan who pulled her back from the brink of the dark side, when she nearly took his head off in lightsaber practice. She attacked him relentlessly, her aggression fed by her anger, until she had him backed into a corner from which he could not escape. She held her blade against his, pushing him down and struggling to keep hold of her lightsaber.

"Traelyn, that's enough!" Master Qui-Gon shouted.

Obi-Wan gathered the Force around him and shoved her violently, and she landed ten feet away on her back, her lightsaber skittering across the floor to land at Qui-Gon's feet.

Stunned, she lay there as he towered over her, tucking her weapon into his own belt. "Go. Meditate. You may have this back when you get your anger under control."

She flushed with embarrassment, and fled the room before either of them could see her tears.

Later that night, Obi-Wan found her sitting near her favorite waterfall, her eyes closed as if meditating, but as he sat down beside her and held out her lightsaber, she spoke.

"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan," she said as took the weapon from him.

"Qui-Gon went to see your master," he told her.

"I expected that, I already told him what happened," she replied. "He sent me to meditate, too."

"That seems to be the masters' answer to everything," he said.

"Except Master Jeran is a healer, he has to check for brain damage first," she said humorlessly.

"You were so angry today, what's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know," she lied. "But it was exhilarating to have all that power at my command. But then, I lost control, it had a hold on me."

"It's very dangerous to draw on the dark side like that, Traelyn. You've got to control your anger and let it go, can I help?"

She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her forehead on her knees so he couldn't see her tears. "It's gone now," she said, truthfully. "When you shoved me away, the hold was broken, and the shock seems to have abated the anger."

"I'd do anything for you, you're my best friend," he said, worried.

"As I would for you, you know that, don't you?" she asked.

"Yes, I know, and you have. I've made my decision. You were right, you know. It was just physical attraction. I can deal with it, now that I know. Thank you for helping me."

"Get used to it," she said with a smile. "It's going to be my job."

She's grown up. He thought. I'm not sure I like that!

* * *

Three years later, Traelyn was nestled in Obi-Wan's arms in the light of the full moon of Alderaan. Gently she touched his face. "We'll get in trouble if we get caught here," she said, echoing her ten year-old self.

"Possibly," he said as he nuzzled her hair with his face. "But I have the feeling that the Force was with us tonight. It was incredible." He brushed the hair back from her face, letting the moonlight streaming in through the window shine in her sparkling blue eyes. "I love you, Traelyn. I have for as long as I can remember. You were right, we are attached, and nothing is going to change that."

"Pledge your heart to me and I will give you mine," she quoted an old love poem.

"I pledge my life, and nothing will ever part us." But then he kissed her gently and slipped out of bed.

"Don't go!" she said.

"I must, I'm sharing a room with Master Qui-Gon, what will he think if I'm not in my own bed?"

"Tell him you went for a walk in the moonlight."

"Traelyn, I'm not a very good liar, you know that."

"Well, you did walk back from the window after you opened the drapes, so it's true, from a certain point of view."

He grinned and slipped back into bed with her. "You are very wise... and funny. I’m going to remember that one!"

Fan Art by Hansgirl!

FAN ART BY J'aii-Gun Jiinn

Posted with permission of the artist! (A member of The Jedi Assembly)