Part 7 - THE HAPPIEST YEAR

PART I - PART II - PART III - PART IV - PART V - PART VI


Over the next year, Master Jeran was true to his word, and sent Traelyn around the galaxy on various missions. Supplying emergency medical support to outlying colonies, administering vaccinations to children and taking newly discovered medicines to the poorer planets outside the core region. Often she was sent to do her most satisfying service, treating neurological or systemic disorders that only Jedi healers could cure.

Jedi rules required a healer to be accompanied by a Knight on such missions, for the healer's protection. Often it was Obi-Wan who accompanied Traelyn, although he laughed at her need for protection.

"You're as good with a lightsaber as I am," he remarked.

"Yes, but you are better with words than I am," she replied with a smile. "Who knows what sort of diplomatic incident I could cause without you along to keep my mouth from overrunning my brain."

Usually, young Anakin did not accompany them, for he was studying at the Temple with other the other younglings his age. Traelyn and Obi-Wan had never enjoyed so much privacy or freedom in their lives. Often the missions involved a layover of several days while they waited for transport, and they put their time to good use.

While Traelyn learned new and unusual healing practices from the people she went to serve, Obi-Wan enjoyed learning the customs and politics of the different worlds. It didn't take long for him to develop a deep mistrust of politicians.

"You don't have to be a Jedi to know when a politician is lying, you know," he said to her one night at dinner. "You only have to hear that he is speaking!"

They were treated with kindness and respect wherever they went. They ate in exotic restaurants and slept in fine hotels and resorts, or had their meals with local families and slept on pallets on the floors of farmhouses. Every experience added to their education as Jedi, for everyone they met had something to offer.

And most nights, they had each other.

* * *

First there was Dantooine, where the work took a only few hours but they had two days to wait for transport, and decided to visit the lush forests surrounding the port city.

They camped out beside a thermal waterfall, swimming in the clear, warm water, laughing and splashing about like younglings. They'd made love beneath shooting stars and in the pale light of the twin moons as they set just before dawn.

It was there that Obi-Wan finally found the courage to try to link his mind with hers during sex, a lesson he'd learned from Qui-Gon years before, but had never had the nerve to try. The results were astounding. The blending of their emotions was like melting two metals together, forging the whole of the experience into something stronger than the two halves.

Traelyn had wept with joy as she clung to him, and he felt as if a star had gone supernova inside his body.

"How?" She'd whispered.

"Qui-Gon told me about it, but I couldn't believe it was true."

"I think we caused a ripple in the Force," she said with a giggle.

* * *

They spent nearly a week on Chandrila, when Traelyn's patient needed multiple treatments. Obi-Wan had brought Anakin along, and they spent their days exploring Obi-Wan's home planet. Even though he had no memory of ever having lived there, he was naturally curious about the culture of his family's planet.

"Aren't you going to look for your mom?" Anakin asked.

"No," Obi-Wan replied, "There would be no purpose to that, she would be a stranger to me."

"But she would remember you," Anakin said.

Obi-Wan had no answer.

At dinner that night, Anakin asked Traelyn about her family. "The Jedi are my family, Anakin," she said. "I've lived at the Temple since I was a little baby."

"Traelyn and I had the same caregiver when we were tiny younglings," Obi-Wan says. "She doesn't remember, but I do. When we were older we were in the same clan, so we are like siblings, you might say." Traelyn hid her smile behind her wine glass.

"Is that why you both talk funny?" Anakin asked.

"Well, I suppose that is true," Obi-Wan replied with a chuckle.

"Your mom probably misses you," Anakin said innocently.

Traelyn laughed. "I don't think so."

"Leave it, Anakin," Obi-Wan said with a quelling look.

Later that night, after Anakin had gone to sleep, Obi-Wan and Traelyn sat on the balcony of her hotel room and shared a bottle of wine. The night breezes were warm, and smelled of sweet flowers.

"I don't know what to say to Anakin when he is missing his mother."

"Digeeta cared for us like a mother would," Traelyn said thoughtfully. "Think how you might feel if you were not certain that she was safe and happy back at the Temple. The Jedi care for our own, it is our way. But it is not the way of Anakin's people."

"I have tried to teach him to put her out of his mind, but there are nights he cries for her. He thinks I don't hear him."

"I sense he misses her very much. And he has great concern for her well-being. I could feel his worry during dinner tonight. I think you should go to the Council and ask them to... improve her situation." Traelyn sipped at her wine and gazed at the stars.

"It was wrong for us to leave her in slavery, but we had no other choice," Obi-Wan mused.

"Then, but something could be done now. Surely our treasury can afford to free a slave and set her up in some better living situation. It would ease Anakin's mind a great deal."

"Or he could learn to live with it," Obi-Wan said. "If he really wants to be a Jedi, he has to put that behind him."

'Perhaps," she replied, but she did not share her unease about the boy. She still felt a peculiar grayness about him, but Obi-Wan had enough to worry about without her adding that to his thoughts.

Obi-Wan hopped across the balcony railing to his own room to check on Anakin. He returned with a smile. "He's fast asleep, and peacefully this time."

"He should be, I slipped some sleep enhancing waves into his thoughts at dinner," she grinned.

Obi-Wan held out his hand, and led her into her room, leaving the doors open so they could smell the sweet breezes and hear the night birds singing while they shared a gentle reminder of their affection for each other.

* * *

There several trips when Obi-Wan did not accompany her, and she made friends with other Jedi during the voyages and enjoyed the company of people from other worlds. Without classes to study for, she had time to enjoy holonovels, and she finally learned to play dejarik and sabaac.

There would be many times in the future that Traelyn would look back and consider that except for her lingering grief for Qui-Gon, that year was the happiest time of her life.

* * *

One day Traelyn returned from a trip to find her Master gravely ill. The other healers were baffled by his condition, as all the scanners registered nothing, and none of their Force techniques found anything wrong.

"Why didn't you send for me?" She asked Master Porgon.

"Why should I have? You are only a Padawan, after all," he replied crankily.

"Yes, but I'm HIS Padawan. Don't you think I have any feelings for him?"

She fumed at the other healers, although they outranked her, it was no excuse for such thoughtlessness.

She sat with Master Jeran for several hours, holding his hand and poking around in his mind. She opened up her empathic abilities, reaching out towards his unconscious body.

Suddenly, she caught the feeling of something dark, something out of place. She placed her hand on the back of his head and opened herself further to her emotions and to the Force. She called for Master Porgon.

"He's got a blood clot in the left rear quarter of his brain," she said.

"That's impossible, the scanner would have picked it up," he said.

"It's right here," she replied, taking his hand placing it on the spot. Porgon's eyes went blank for a moment as he reached into the Force.

"Blast, you're right, there is something there!"

* * *

When Master Jeran had recovered, he suggested it was time for Traelyn to take her trials. "You've proven yourself medically, my Padawan, it is time for you to face the council."

Traelyn smiled. "Yes, Master."

When the day came, Traelyn was first sent to the training area, where she demonstrated her physical fitness. Swimming, climbing, running, acrobatic leaps and jumps were all part of the test.

Then she moved on to the swordmaster. "Good Morning, Master Drallig," her Master said as they entered his domain.

Master Drallig turned and looked at Traelyn. "Oh, my favorite remote destroyer!" He said with a chuckle. "I have something here for you." He reached into a cabinet and pulled out a gleaming new remote. "Ten emitters, a thousand random intervals, and a transparisteel lens."

"Oh, shiny," Traelyn said, her eyes glittering with anticipation.

The remote followed her into the center of the training room, hovering just above her head. She turned to face it, and the swordmaster clicked it to life. The first few shots it took at her were predictable, and she deflected them away with ease. But, the faster she moved, the faster the remote reacted.

It backed her up, almost against a wall, but she tumbled away and landed on her feet behind the seeker, which fired a shot as it rotated around and she deflected it directly back into its emitter, frying it.

The remote continued shooting at her randomly, but it seemed to be following her movements. She sent a backhanded slash towards it, searing an emitter with the tip of her saber blade, pushing the melted metal towards the remote's eye.

As she fought the remote, she was only slightly aware of the group of people who had gathered to watch. Not only were the council masters there, but a large group of Padawans, and Obi-Wan and Anakin.

She took out two more emitters with deflected shots, and then scored a glancing blow to the side of the hovering orb, sending it spinning out of control. Master Drallig caught the ball and adjusted a few knobs on it, and sent it back after Traelyn, but before he re-started its firing sequence, he tied a blindfold around Traelyn's head.

She grinned at the challenge, and took her stance. As the remote hummed to life, she went deep into the Force, letting it guide her hands and feet back and forth across the room. She twirled and dodged the energy bolts, deflecting them away and scoring two more hits on the globe. It was down to less than half its emitters, but it was a machine and wasn't programmed for surrender.

She was on the offensive now, so deep in the Force that her arms moved her lightsaber with the fluidity of a swimmer, and her feet slid across the floor like a dancer. Suddenly, the remote reversed its course and zinged backwards past her head, but it wasn't quick enough.

Traelyn sensed the air moving by her face an instant before it happened, and she swung her lightsaber up and drove it into the remote's transparisteel eye. It fell to the floor, dead.

The younglings cheered and Traelyn removed her blindfold and blinked her eyes to see such a crowd assembled. Master Jeran was grinning happily, and the swordmaster looked annoyed.

"That remote was fresh from the factory! State of the art," he grumbled. "Well, let's see how your defenses are!" He ignited his saber and charged after her.

She blocked and parried his strikes, moving around in circles to stay out of corners, somersaulting and flipping over him and turning the fight the other direction. All that sparring with Obi-Wan paid off, as she remembered his defensive tactics and moved in turn with Master Drallig's attacks.

But as she tired, she grew impatient with the standoff and tried to Force push him down, and he caught her with a wave of his own. She went down, his saber pointed at her neck.

He chuckled and extended his hand and pulled her to her feet. "Well done, Padawan." Traelyn was pleased, for that was high praise from the swordmaster, who rarely complimented anyone.

Traelyn caught site of several of the High Council members leaving the room as Master Jeran approached her. "We're to see the council in one hour." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "This is it, my Padawan. The hardest test of all. But you will become a Jedi Knight today, I feel it in the Force. Now go shower and change, and meet me at the Council chambers."

"Yes, Master."

* * *

Traelyn ran to her room, showered, brushed out and rebraided her hair, pinning it tightly to her head. She smoothed out her Padawan braid, wondering if she was about to part with it. Quickly she dressed in her best tunic, a long brown skirt, indoor boots and her newest cloak.

As she exited the elevator at the top of the Council spire, she took several deep, calming breaths before she approached her Master. "I am ready, Master," she said bravely.

Just then the door opened, and the youngling serving as the Council's helper that day announced solemnly that the Council would see them now.

As always, she was awed by the view from the Council chambers. Without showing any emotion, she stood before Master Yoda and bowed. Master Jeran stood behind her, a reversal of every other time they'd come before the Council.

She stood without moving for two hours while the Council members tested her Force abilities and skills, and questioned her. She moved only to face the Master who was speaking. Questions on diplomacy, fighting styles, healing techniques, the ethics of battlefield medicine and euthanasia. And most of all, the Jedi Code. Anger leads to hate... trust in the Force... wisdom over passion... in trying, one does... believe and you will succeed...

"How feel you?" Asked Master Yoda.

"At peace, Master," she replied.

"Then eye-to-eye face me you must," he said. Master Jeran gently nudged her in the back, and she stepped forward and knelt on one knee before the diminutive master.

"A long time have I waited for this, Padawan Traelyn. A day perhaps never would come, I believed." He chuckled. "Commit your life to the Jedi Order, do you? To serving others, and upholding justice you dedicate yourself? The responsibility of a Jedi Knight do you desire and accept?"

"Yes, Grand Master."

"Then a Jedi Knight you shall be."

Master Jeran stepped forward, and igniting a small laser scalpel, he lifted Traelyn's Padawan braid and severed it, holding it tenderly in his hand for a few moments before taking her hand and placing the thin plait of hair into it.

"Keep this with your most valued treasures, Jedi Traelyn. It will remind you always of the journey you took to get to where you are, to who you are, and it will always be a symbol of your learning and acceptance of our ways." He extended his hand and gracefully she rose her to her feet.

"May the Force be with you both," Master Windu said, gesturing towards the door in an indication that they were dismissed. They bowed to the Council members and left the chamber, Master Jeran's arm around her shoulders.

As the door slid shut behind them, Traelyn caught sight of Obi-Wan, waiting just around the bend of the corridor. Grinning, she held up her braid and ran towards him and he scooped her up in a wampa hug, whirling her around. "We did it!" She cried.

Master Jeran was smiling, but looked a bit puzzled.

"When we were very young, and in trouble with Master Yoda, we swore we'd find a way to become Jedi Knights," she explained.

Jeran grinned at them both. "And so you have. Try not to forget it, either," he said with mock sternness. Slipping a credit chip into Obi-Wan's hand, he whispered in his ear. "Take her out for dinner, and perhaps breakfast, too." He winked, and then strode away, his own emotions threatening to overflow.

Tenric's Gambit: part VI

Here, for now, is the end of the story. I would be happier actually writing the confrontation with Dalba, but time constraints (and other duties) prevent it.
Hope you enjoyed the story.....please feel free to leave comments or feedback as I am interested in both. As to Dale & Orlan's new business; that is another story....

Thanks for reading!!

Part VI

Tenric paused and closed his eyes momentarily. His brow furrowed a bit and he took a deep breath. Dale and Orlan looked at each other as Tenric seemed to finish whatever he was doing then raised his hand to order another Ale.

“I have been putting this little operation together for awhile now, since just before Dalba cheated Dale out of his liberty actually.” Tenric began. “I wanted to find a way to free you from Dure-Lite Orlan, and also free Dale from his debt to Dalba. It seemed best to find a way to combine both objectives and cut the risks thereby.” Dale and Orlan exchanged looks once more.

“Go on,” Orlan prompted, “We’re listening.” Dale simply nodded.

“Dalba was my sponsor for this race. I sought out her sponsorship as a means to gain her trust.” Tenric confided. “I will use the winnings from the race to pay off Dale’s debt.”

“But it isn’t enough.” Dale interrupted.

“It will be when I ask her how much my interview tomorrow morning will be worth to her.” Tenric continued. “You see she has gotten a reputation for being soft among the Hutts and her underlings have begun to grumble and challenge her. If she wants to stay in power here on Soma III she needs to solidify her control.”

“How will your interview help her do that?” Dale asked, while Orlan sat thinking about what Tenric was saying.

“It will help her image immensely when I confess to the reporters that my desperate gambit was fueled by both the awe and fear I have for Dalba. I will say that my desperate need to not disappoint her drove me to accomplish what I did. I will be very sincere.” Here he paused to sip from his newly arrived ale.

“That might actually work!” Dale sounded hopeful now.

“It will my friend, Dalba is desperate and I will be handing her just what she needs.” Tenric encouraged.

“But,” Orlan interjected, “How will she spend this extra sum you offer her? Tempting as it sounds, what will make her underlings buy into it?”

Here Tenric fixed Orlan with one of those stares of his for a moment or two. It gave him the creeps, but he had become used to them over the time they had known each other. Orlan had his suspicions, but kept them to himself. One did not openly discuss certain things nowadays.

“Astute as always my friend,” Tenric replied. “Dalba’s underlings will buy into it because I will be freelancing for her, for a time, to ensure they do.”

“But, you can’t!” Dale began in a splutter of ale. “I’d rather it was me serving that worm than you!”

“Dale,” Tenric soothed, “Trust me on this. I have need of what Dalba can give me with this exchange. The arrangement will be temporary and at my discretion.”

“Need! What could you need from a Hutt?” Dale protested.

“I am about to embark on a new career, if you will, and an association with Dalba will strengthen my entry into it.”

“Just what, if I may ask, will this new venture be?” Orlan asked.

“But!” Dale managed say before Tenric raised his hand to gain their attention.

“I am going to begin Bounty Hunting for Dalba. I will do so until I have enough of a reputation to go it alone.” Here he smiled as both of his friends began to object. He raised his hand again and continued. “I know you are confused and cannot see me as one of the ‘filth of the galaxy’, but there are extenuating circumstances.”

“Such as your Uncle?” Dale almost whispered as he caught on. “Like that trip to Dantooine last year.”

“For one, yes.” Tenric confirmed. “My uncle left SomaIII to take his place in the Clone Wars and fell in battle. I wish to find his remains and bring them back home. My first attempt was misguided, to a point.” Here he once more quieted their objections. “It matters not which side he was on, the truth remains the same. Bounty Hunting will provide me both the credits and cover for traveling widely as I must.”

“What is the other reason?” Orlan asked. Dale had almost forgotten there was a second reason as he contemplated what Tenric was saying.

“The other reason is to be of service to those who have been most injured by Palpitane’s power grab. Those who have been disenfranchised, outlawed, and hunted. The injustice of it has burned within me since the beginning and the time is right for me to step in.”

“But I still don’t…” Dale began.

“I think I do.” Orlan stated flatly, interrupting him. “Things make sense now that you have said it.”

“Said what?” Dale asked feeling somewhat left out.

“You are both intelligent and wise Orlan. Please explain it to Dale after you are free from Dure-Lite.”

“You may count on it. Now just how am I to be free?”

Dale crossed his arms in a determined huff but kept silent as Tenric finished explaining his plan to them.

“Dale, you are a natural pilot and a gifted mechanic. You can feel when something is not right with a ship. Orlan, you are an amazingly gifted engineer and designer. Together you can make your own way in the galaxy free from the Hutts or the glory-stealing bureaucrats of Dure-Lite.”

Once more Orlan and Dale looked at each other as the service droid arrived with a fresh round for all.

“The credits Dale has amassed to pay back Dalba combined with the investment capital Orlan will receive when he announces the founding of his own custom shipyard will set the two of you up in business. Racers from all over the quadrant will flock to you for their needs. Then others will follow. Between the two of you I foresee great advances being made.”

“Exactly why would I make such an announcement Tenric?” Orlan asked.

“Because in my interview I will also give you full credit for saving my life today. It was your modification to the shield generators and repulsors that allowed me to survive being hit by that asteroid. No other racer on the circuit would have survived.”

“Neither would you without those damned reflexes of yours.” Orlan stated.

“True. However even without them there would still have been a fighting chance. Together you can both rise above the mining colony and make a difference that counts.”

“Where shall we find a base of operations?” Orlan asked. “Since you have planned everything else.”

“There is an abandoned asteroid mine in the ‘suicide sector’ that will do nicely. Dure-Lite examined it a generation ago but decided it was too costly to mine. Then the Hutts set up a mining base on it and ran it dry. It has lain dormant for over a decade now, the durelium depleted. Neither the Hutts or Dure-Lite ever made legal claim to it and neither will judge it worth vying for when you claim it.”

“You sound so sure of all this Tenric. How can you know?” Dale asked. “I mean it sounds great and would sure take care of my family, but…”

“I have done my homework on this, be assured my friends. It only needs your agreement to make it happen.”

“I suppose it would work,” Orlan mused. “And, naturally, you’d drop by during the course of your ‘service’ to those poor souls you mentioned.”

Tenric just smiled at his astute friend. Yes. Orlan was the right choice for this, and with Dale along it was sure to flourish.

“Um, Orlan?” Dale turned to face his table-mate. “I’m in if you’re in. Anything’s better than the way things are now, and if we can help Tenric here…..”

“Yes. We can help Dale, and running my own business on the side will be fun as well.” Orlan replied, “It appears we have a deal Tenric.”

“Great then let’s drink to it!” Tenirc said as he raised his ale. All three drank to seal the deal, and Tenric drained his flask. “Now! Dale and I have an appointment with Dalba down below, and you my dear Orlan shall need a good night’s rest if you are to start drawing up your business venture plan in the morning.”

With that they rose from the table and separated for now. Dale and Tenric headed for the gambling dens below to face Dalba, and Orlan headed home. He was overwhelmed with all he had learned this night, and with what the future might hold. As he headed off down the street he began running the numbers in his head and mumbling under his breath….

“At least three ship bays, zero-g fabrication unit, some sort of perimeter security.....and a full engineering simulator….”

Fade to Black / roll credits & play theme music….



The sequel to this story is now posted in the fanfic area at: http://www.wordcraftcafe.com/ and available to members It is entitled "Gambit Inc." and is a cross between the story lines of a fellow fanfic writer, Jedi Ranger, and Tenric’s. Jedi Ranger carried much of the story as we collaborated on the details.

“Gambit Inc.” establishes Orlan and Dale in their new business and sets up some new contacts that will serve Tenric well in the future.Please stop by, Join, and let us know what you think of it.....

Part 6 - THE DEATH OF QUI-GON JINN

PART I - PART II - PART III - PART IV - PART V

A few nights later, Traelyn was deeply asleep when suddenly, a jolt in the Force startled her awake.

"Master Qui-Gon?" She said out loud. She shook her head, trying to get a sense of the disturbance she'd just felt. Whatever it was, she was certain something was not right. She reached out into the Force, searching for his presence, but there was nothing. She searched for Obi-Wan, but the currents of the Force that swirled around him were cloudy and dark.

She needed to find her Master.

She grabbed her lightsaber and went looking for Master Jeran. He was not in his apartment, so she headed for the Infirmary, and found him packing some medical equipment. She waited for him to finish, but he could sense her distress and looked up.

"Traelyn?" He asked.

"I felt a disturbance in the Force, Master, like a death. I think it was Master Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan is in great pain."

He sighed and put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Traelyn, but you are right. Master Jinn is dead. We must go to Naboo and see about his... his mortal remains."

Traelyn looked away, blinking back her tears.

"I told the Council I would go personally, I knew you would want to be there. And Obi-Wan could use a friend, I'm sure. Go get dressed, we must leave for Naboo right away."

"Yes, Master," she replied automatically.

* * *

On board the ship with Master Jeran and the Council members, Traelyn spent her time sleeping or meditating. In the Force, she could still feel Qui-Gon's physical pain and Obi-Wan's mental anguish. Hang on, Obi-Wan, I'm coming.

Master Yoda raised an ear and looked in her direction, but said nothing.

* * *

Upon their arrival at Theed, Master Jeran asked to be taken to Qui-Gon immediately. They were led through long hallways until they reached the room where his body lay, with Obi-Wan keeping watch.

The Council members started to enter the room, but Master Jeran turned to them and put his hand up.

"We will take care of this," he said, motioning for Traelyn.

"But we must investigate," said Master Windu.

"I will give you my findings after I have examined the body," he said firmly.

"We must question Padawan Kenobi," Windu tried again.

"We must see to his condition as well," Jeran replied. "We will let you know when you may speak with him. Now go, please, and let us do our work. Come, Padawan," he steered Traelyn into the room ahead of him, closing the door firmly behind him, leaving the Council members to gather at the window.

Traelyn was impressed at how he handled them, but he was the Master Healer and this was his area of authority.

Obi-Wan looked up. "Traelyn," he said softly.

Traelyn looked at him with love and sympathy in her eyes, but she couldn't bear to look at Qui-Gon's body. Not yet.

"Traelyn, take Obi-Wan into the next room and see if he's injured, please," Master Jeran said.

Obi-Wan rose from his chair, "I'm not injured, Master, I..." Traelyn put her finger to her lips and led him into the next room, away from the window.

As she closed the inner door behind them, she held out her arms to Obi-Wan, and he nearly fell into them, burying his face on her shoulder and letting his tears flow. She wrapped her arms around him, stroking his head, and emanating soothing Force energy in his direction.

"Obi-Wan," she said gently, her own tears falling into his hair.

"I couldn't save him," he sobbed. "I couldn't get to him in time."

She rocked him back and forth and let him cry. When his shaking lessened, she guided him over to a comfortable looking chair and made him sit. Kneeling in front of him, she looked him in the eye.

"Are you injured, Obi-Wan?" She asked, while visually checking him over. She placed her hand on his chest and sought the Force, checking for damage.

"No, I'm not," he replied, drying his tears on his sleeve. "Just bumps and bruises."

She placed her fingers on his temples and began to send healing tendrils into his mind.

"Stop that," he said angrily. "You can't just wave away my pain."

"Nothing's going to take your pain away, Obi-Wan, now let me do my job. Trust me." She soothed away his anger and centered him in the Force. He began to breathe normally, and his heart rate slowed.

"I'm sorry," he said. "And thank you."

"The council is going to question you. I have to be sure you are ready for that. Do you want to tell me what happened?" She sat down next to him and held his hands.

He told her the story of the duel in the power station. His pain was agonizing when he told her how he couldn't get to the fight in time, and how he watched his master go down while he was trapped, helpless, behind an energy shield.

"I overheard the Masters on board the ship," she told him. "They think the Zabrak was a Sith!"

"He stank of the Dark Side," Obi-Wan said. "I've never felt a presence like his before. It was frightening, but I killed him, and I'm glad, too. I 'm glad he's dead," he said.

"You might not want to tell the Council that, my friend. Just relate the facts. If he was a Sith, he would have killed you, too. You know you did the right thing. You saved not only yourself, but many others, including Queen Amidala. And, you brought Qui-Gon justice. He would be proud of you," she said.

* * *

They waited while Master Jeran finished his examination of Qui-Gon's body. He looked tired. Sad and tired.

"There wasn't anything you could have done, Obi-Wan," he said. "That sort of a wound is always fatal."

Obi-Wan nodded silently.

"Traelyn, take my report to the council while I finish up here, please."

"I'll go with you," Obi-Wan said. "They're going to want to talk to me, I know."

"Is he up for that, Traelyn? I can keep him here under medical supervision if he's not ready," Jeran said.

"He can do it, Master," she replied.

* * *

Traelyn recited Master Jeran's findings to the council without looking any of them in the eye. She didn't trust herself to hold back her grief. She laid a datacard on the table and stepped back. Obi-Wan stepped forward.

"Padawan Kenobi, a report for us you have?" Asked Yoda.

Obi-Wan retold his story again, in more detail this time, but without his emotional reactions. Traelyn watched him carefully, ready to send out soothing, healing thoughts if necessary. By the end of the tale he had tears in his eyes.

"No honor to your master, do you do with your tears, young Obi-Wan," said Yoda.

Traelyn experienced a flash of anger, but a Padawan Healer did not argue with the Grand Master.

"Your anger, you cannot conceal from me, Padawan," he said, looking in her direction.

"I beg your pardon, Master Yoda, but humans often find the release of tears to be calming. It rids the body of stress toxins and centers the spirit," she said.

Master Yoda looked annoyed.

"You are finished here, you may go," Windu said to her dismissively.

"I'm sorry, but my Master's instructions were to wait for Padawan Kenobi and bring him back to the Medical Center."

Windu sighed. "Very well, you both may go."

* * *

"I can't believe you stood up to them like that," Obi-Wan said.

Traelyn was shaking. "I can't either, but he shouldn't have said that to you."

"Bury your feelings deeper, Traelyn, or the whole Council will know our secret," he said with a shake of his head.

She nodded. "We have to go back to the Medical Center, or else I'll be a liar, too."

* * *

They'd been given rooms in the guest wing of the palace, next to each other and away from the Council members, at the request of Master Jeran.

"Stay with him," he ordered Traelyn, although she had every intention of doing so anyway. "Let him talk, cry, whatever he needs. If he gets too bad, put him into a healing trance. In spite of what the Jedi say, a human needs to let his grief out, you know that."

"Yes, Master, I will watch over him."

"I'm thinking of your grief, too, Traelyn. I know Qui-Gon was special to you," he said.

"He brought me to the Temple when I was a baby," she said tearfully. "He was always checking up on me, he saved my life when he brought me to you when I was ten. And Obi-Wan is my best friend, I can sense his pain deeply. I know I would be heartbroken if I lost you, Master."

Master Jeran hugged her. "I know. Now go be with your friend, he needs you."

* * *

They spent the entire night together, sitting on the veranda of his room, listening to the waterfalls. They talked about Qui-Gon, they told stories, they held each other. Traelyn soothed his distress, and he comforted her.

"I loved him, Traelyn," Obi-Wan said. "He was like what a father should be to me. He taught me so much, and in our last days together we were at odds with each other. Or rather, I was annoyed at him."

"And he forgave you, didn't he?"

"Of course," he smiled wanly. "He told me I was a wiser man than he." Obi-Wan shook his head, as if such a thing was not possible.

"He did know about us, didn't he?" She asked.

"Yes, and he told me to protect my heart. And yours, too," he replied with a sad smile.

"We can't change what we feel for each other, Obi-Wan, we will just have to be sure our love does not influence our actions in other matters."

"I know, and I promised him that we would do that."

"And so we shall," Traelyn assured him. "It will be our promise to each other in his memory."

In the wee hours of the morning, they went inside and made love in the waning moonlight, reaffirming life with the tender expression of their love for each other. They slept in each other's arms for a few hours, and awoke clear eyed and calm.

Obi-Wan was summoned by Master Yoda. Traelyn was concerned. "It's all right, I can handle myself today," he said.

"You may be over your shock, Obi-Wan, but don't think for a moment you are over your grief. That will be with you for a long time. A very long time."

"I know. I will learn to live with it as a Jedi should," he said firmly. "I'll see you tonight, at the memorial."

* * *

Traelyn spent the morning learning about post-mortem procedures from Master Jeran. After grieving with Obi-Wan, she was emotionally ready to face Qui-Gon's remains, but the absence of his presence in the Force still disturbed her.

"As healers, it's our responsibility to see that the dead are treated with respect. Often there are questions that we must answer, although in this case the cause of death was obvious," he told her. "But there will be times when we are the last to speak for the dead."

She examined the lightsaber wound with shock. "I've never seen anything like that, and I hope never to again," she said.

"There will be worse things, and many times it will be people you care about. You must learn to deal with it as a Jedi, and that means duty first. You must put aside your feelings and deal with the facts. I have no doubt that you are capable."

"Does it get any easier?" She asked.

"No, but you will become better able to deal with it."

* * *

That afternoon, she assisted Master Jeran as he physically examined the strange little boy from Tatooine. He did indeed have a very high midi-chlorian count, and he seemed very bright. He was curious about their medical equipment, and fascinated by Traelyn's lightsaber.

"If you're a doctor, why are you carrying a laser sword?" He asked. "Are you a Jedi, too?"

"Yes, she is, we both are," Master Jeran replied with a chuckle.

"To be precise," she said, "He is the Master Healer of the Jedi Order, and I am his apprentice. And you, are perfectly healthy."

"I feel cold all the time."

Traelyn nodded. "Tatooine is a hot place, I hear. I'll get you some medicine that will help you adapt, and see to getting you some warmer clothes."

He looked down at the floor. "I feel bad about Master Qui-Gon," he said.

"We all do, Anakin. We all do."

* * *

"There's something odd about him, Master," she said later, in private.

"Is it something you feel empathically, or through the Force?"

"Empathically, it feels just like he says, cold and sad. But, there's something not right with him in the Force." Traelyn shook her head and rubbed her eyes. "I sense a grayness about him."

"I think you are tired, Padawan. Go take a nap before the memorial, and then perhaps you can sort out these feelings."

"Yes, Master," she replied, grateful for the chance to stop and think for a while. Her emotions were in a turmoil of grief, sympathy, anger and helplessness. And Obi-Wan would need her support during the memorial. She went back to her room for a hot shower and a long nap.

* * *

As the sun set over Theed the Jedi gathered for the memorial. There were many important people in the room; even Queen Amidala was there. Obi-Wan stood beside his Master's body. Traelyn managed to slip in next to him, the long sleeves of their cloaks concealing the fact that he held her hand tightly.

Oddly, on the other side of him stood Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan turned and spoke to him, and then turned back towards Traelyn.

"This is Anakin Skywalker," he said.

She nodded, "We met this afternoon."

He's coming back to the Temple with us to be a Jedi, isn't that right, Anakin?"

The little boy nodded, and Traelyn smiled at him in spite of her shock. Then she noticed the absence of Obi-Wan's Padawan braid. She touched the side of his head briefly with a questioning look.

"It's a long story," Obi-Wan whispered to her. "He's to become my Padawan."

I have a bad feeling about this. She thought. But she squeezed his hand and turned back towards the burning pyre. "Life goes on, Qui-Gon," she said quietly. "We will see you again someday."

Tenric's Gambit: part V

part V

Dale wandered down to the cantina he and Tenric usually met at. The Shaft, as it was affectionately called, was an interesting place. Carved from a building sized boulder it had several underground rooms used for playing Sabaac as well as other, less friendly, games of chance. Tenric liked the place mostly because he liked the owner. Old Ragün had been a friend of Tenric’s grandmother since before he’d been born. Ragün ran as clean an establishment as the Hutts would allow and was respected by all the miners, human and non-human alike. The Hutts might run the lower levels, but up top he was boss. The fact that his grandson was highly placed in the local Enforcer Brigade also helped keep the peace. There were arguments aplenty, and fistfights were common, but if you pulled a weapon or drew unnecessary blood you’d end up not only banned from the establishment for life, but also might just be summarily arrested and shipped to the Asteroid mines for “community service”. Many said Kessel was a preferable fate.

Dale got a booth and waited for Tenric. Only his friend’s last remark kept him from getting drunk and going below to face Dalba now. Tenric seemed to have a plan of some sorts to help him pay back the money he’d lost to the Hutt playing sabaac. He’d had an Idiot’s Array, a guaranteed win, but a seemingly random ‘shuffle’ had given his hand to Dalba at the very last second. Accusing the Hutt of cheating would have been suicide so he’d had to accept the loss. Now he owed the slimy cheat enough to buy a small freighter, and he couldn’t pay. He’d scraped some of it together with his racing winnings, but time was up and today’s loss sealed his fate, unless Tenric had an Idiot’s Array of his own to play.

The Holo-Vid at the bar was tuned to the news coverage of the race. The reporter, a canine-faced Bothan, was repeating the ruling that had just been handed down by the racing commission.

“In an unprecedented decision the judges have decided to pool the credits for first, second, and third place and split them evenly between the three winners. The official statement cites the heroic actions of the three winners in preventing loss of life as the basis for their decision….”

Dale shook his head as he did a quick calculation. Even if Tenric were to give him his third of the winnings it still wouldn’t be enough. Still, if Tenric felt there was hope he was willing to feel it too. Maybe the money would be enough to buy more time.

“…Furthermore, stay tuned for at first light we have been promised an exclusive interview with the racer who had all of us on the edge of our seats. Tenric of Darkwood Settlement has promised to let us in on what inspired him to such lunacy and greatness.”

Dale stared at the screen. “An interview, huh?” He thought, but his musing was interrupted by the arrival of Orlan. He looked around, spotted Dale, and headed over. Dale knew him mainly through Tenric. He was an engineer with Dure-Lite by day and Tenric’s ship mechanic and developer by night. He couldn’t recall how they had met, but they seemed to get along quite well.

“Hey, how’s it going Dale?” Orlan said as he sat down and ordered a large ‘Hutt-Buster’ from the service droid that approached. “Tenric told me last night to meet you two here around now. He said he might be late.” He finished with a frown. “He is alright isn’t he?”

“Yeah. He’s ok. Got banged around a bit but he’ll be fine.” Dale replied. “ Should be here in a bit. He got the med-techs to play up the injuries so he could avoid the media hounds ‘til morning. He was dropped off at Dure-Med a while ago and will…”

“…Be along any time now,” called Tenric from the doorway. Both men swiveled to watch their friend come across the room to their table. As he did so many patrons lifted a glass in salute or greeting and the buzz in the cantina switched notably to the topic of the race. The Bacta-patch was gone and the “gash” on the left side of his head looked well on it’s way to healing cleanly. He was wearing a loose tunic and pants, probably from the med facility, and though a bit pale looked well enough.

As he joined them in the booth the server-droid whizzed up and said in its metallic voice, “Ragün says this table drinks for free tonight.” With that the droid put two large Corellian Ales and a ‘Hutt-Buster’ on the table and departed. Tenric waved his thanks to the bar and grabbed his glass. After draining it in one long draught he put it down thoughtfully. He gazed at it a moment or two with that look of his, kinda like he was far away and running his body by remote. Dale and Orlan were looking at each other, wondering which of them should speak first, when Tenric shook his head, looked at them and said…

“Well, let me tell you why I’ve thrown this little party…”

Tenric's Gambit: part IV

Part IV

The Holo-coverage switched to commercials for race sponsors Incom and Byblos Drives, in order to allow the producers and judges time to decide what to do about the finish. Never before had there been a tie for any position in the Somantus Slalom. Indeed the race was dangerous enough that many thought of it as pod-racing for idiots and nearly every race used to end in numerous deaths until the local Dure-Lite engineers had come up with a shield/repulsor combination that could usually save a ship from glancing blows. All racers were now required to have the modifications made in order to race.

Dale headed over to the landing pits to see if Tenric was any better off than his ship. He knew there was no way the crippled Z-95 could land planet side which meant his friend would be coming down in either a med transport or on the media-sled. He wasn’t sure which he hoped for, since the trip planet side in the media-sled could be the more painful of the two. He waded through more than a hundred spectators waiting for the sleds. Reports being piped over the address system from the comm. channels said Tenric was ok and the media-sled would be mobbed when it landed. Dale looked from the crowd by the media bay to the med pit. The reports said Tenric was ok, but knowing his friend he headed for the med pit anyway.

Sure enough when the med transport landed Tenric was strapped to a grav-bed with full life sensors engaged. There was an audible gasp from the nearby media bay as they took him from the transport and the crowd took notice. Dale was wondering how he could find out how bad Tenric was when one of the med-techs called out to him.

“Hey, you there! Your name Dale by any chance?” called the med-tech, causing the guard to glance at both of them.

“Uh…Yeah that ‘s my name.” Dale responded somewhat cautiously. “Why?”

“He said you’d be here waiting and he wanted you to come along.” Came the reply.

The guard eyed Dale’s zero-g racing suit and the advancing mob and quickly waved him in past the barrier. Dale headed over to the medical speeder they were loading his friend onto wondering what was going on. As he got in he saw that Tenric had a bacta patch across the left side of his head and some visible scorching along the arm of his suit. The med-tech gave Dale an odd look as he closed and secured the hatch, then turned and winked at him.

As Dale was trying to figure out what that could mean the med-tech went over to Tenric and shut off the life sensors and removed them. The Speeder rose and headed out toward the Dure-Med Facility as the med-tech took a seat. Dale waited a moment then slid up to the bed and took a look at his friend. Tenric looked disheveled and beaten up, but otherwise not too bad. The left side of his head had apparently been burned by whatever had scorched his flight suit. There was a bruise on his chin as well.

While Dale was still taking stock of his friend’s injuries Tenric popped his eyes open wide and said “Boo!”. This had the intended effect of surprising Dale enough to cause him to jerk back, knock his head on the wall of the compartment, and slide off the seat. Tenric sat up laughing, then coughed and grimaced from the effort. The med-tech also thought it was funny.

“What the hutt are you doing!” was all Dale could manage by way of protest.

“Tenric wanted to avoid the media and asked us to play it up a bit.” The tech answered while Tenric recovered from his coughing fit. “ His ribs took a beating and he got a nasty gash on his head, but otherwise he’s fine.”

“Yeah, forgot to max out the inertial compensator’s in all the excitement.” Tenric offered with a lopsided smile. “Got banged around a good bit by that big ol’ rock.”

“Everyone thought you were dead when that rock hit you. What happened?” Dale asked.

“Well I had seen it coming and knew Halphon and Guurk wouldn’t so I turbo’d up between them and told them to roll out fast. Then I threw everything into the shields, nearly broke the control stick banking hard, and got bounced clear over the neighboring rock, well…skipped over the rock is more like it if you believe my ribs.” He finished while gingerly testing his side.

Dale just shook his head. “Only you could have lived through what you tried. Heh, only you would ever have even tried it in the first place.”

“Hey, can’t let my best friend end up enslaved to the Hutts.” Tenric replied.

“Well thanks for at least trying.” Dale offered dejectedly as the speeder stopped at the med facility.

The Med-tech told Tenric to lay back down. When Tenric asked why he was told that since he had wanted to “play it up” he would now have to endure an examination and convince the droids he was alright as well.

“Ohh Burble-blow.” He responded with a laugh. “I guess I got myself into that didn’t I?” He said as he lay back down. “Dale. Remember my Ale. I’ll be along as soon as I can.”

Dale turned to leave and heard Tenric call out to him as he was taken into the med-facility, “Besides I’m not done trying yet!”

Part 5 - ON THE EDGE OF CHANGE

PART I - PART II - PART III - PART IV

WARNING: Contains some sexual content. Nothing graphic!

Ten days later Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon returned from their mission. Obi-Wan was in a highly agitated state, telling Traelyn the story of their narrow escapes and battles, but without the usual calm, focused frame of mind he usually possessed. Finally he confided that his Master seemed to have lost his mind and his good sense somewhere in the Outer Rim.

"Obi-Wan, if he wants to take this child on as his Padawan, he must be certain that you are ready to face your trials," she commented.

"Oh yes, he told the council that, and I do feel ready, but I don't understand him, always defying the council's wishes. The boy is far too old to be trained, and there's something dangerous and dark about him. They all sense it, even I do. So, why can't Qui-Gon?"

"Once you pass your trials it will no longer be your concern."

"I behaved rudely to him, I will have to apologize," he sighed.

"Master Qui-Gon loves you, Obi-Wan, you've been like a son to him for twelve years, he will forgive you. Now come to bed." She sent soothing and enticing tendrils of Force energy his way, but they didn't seem to make an impact.

"We can't, Traelyn, what if the council finds out? We could be expelled!"

"Three years we've been sleeping together and now you're going to lecture me on the rules?"

"You need to start thinking with your brain and not your passions!" He said shortly.

Traelyn was both embarrassed and hurt. "Get out of my room!" She said angrily.

* * *

Traelyn fumed for a while, and then changed her clothes and headed for the training room, gripping her lightsaber tightly in her hand, she made no sound as she entered the room in her soft-soled boots.

She was not surprised to find Obi-Wan there, sparring with a remote. She was mildly surprised that he sensed her soundless entry since his feelings were in turmoil, although he was oblivious to her agitated state of mind.

"You want to spar with me?" He asked.

"Sure," she replied, and stood in the center of the room.

He faced off with her, igniting his saber and taking a defensive stance. She lit her blade and attacked, first to the right, then the left. She circled him like a feline on the prowl, taking jabs at his middle with the point of her saber.

Taking a small step back, she drove in towards him, slashing at his lightsaber blade with ferocity. She backed him across the room, but remembering their duel six years earlier, when she'd nearly killed him in a jealous rage, he avoided the corners of the room, somersaulting over her and forcing her to whirl around and fight him back towards the center of the room.

But she was relentless, dominating him in each exchange of slashes and parries. Only his superior knowledge of defensive tactics and the gymnastic moves that went with them allowed him to keep her at bay.

As he fought, his mind began to clear and he sensed the hurt and anger he had caused her with his careless words. Silently he berated himself for speaking so harshly to her. Damn his Master for stirring up his resentments!

Traelyn took advantage of his momentary distraction and swung her blade low, and as he leaped over it she stepped back, gathered the Force around her and pushed him to the floor. His lightsaber flew into her left hand, and she stood over him waving both of the shimmering blue blades in his face.

She was grimacing in triumph. The Force seemed to sparkle around her, and tendrils of energy escaped her body as her anger abated into the satisfaction of victory. He lay there and stared at her. She looked terrible, her face covered in sweat, her eyes cold, wisps of dark side energy flaring from her mind. She was terrifying, and he'd never wanted her so much in his life.

She clicked off the sabers and tossed his to the floor beside him. "Goodnight, Obi-Wan," she said. She turned and left the room.

* * *

A half-hour later he slipped into her room in his bathrobe, and found her sitting on her bunk wearing only a nightdress and caressing her face with her lightsaber. An empty wine glass sat on her night table.

He pulled her up from the bed, and she resisted, but he took her saber and dropped it to the floor, along with her nightgown. He gathered her naked body into his arms, and kissed her, inhaling the sweet smell of soap and bath powder, and feeling the silky strands of her hair in his hands.

She started to speak, but he shushed her with another kiss, and gathered her up and tossed her onto the bunk. Shedding his robe, he fell on top of her, kissing her deeply, and spreading her hair out around her.

Touching, tasting, teasing, and tantalizing her with touches of the Force, he dominated her the way she'd dominated him in their duel and soon she was soft and malleable in his hands, bending to his will, gasping for breath and begging for more.

He brought her to the edge of climax and then held back, over and over, until she was desperate for his touch, and she threw her legs around him, grabbing his Padawan braid and pulling him into her, and they muffled their cries of pleasure in the pillows and in each other's kisses.

With a deep, satisfied sigh, he rolled onto his side and pulled her into his embrace, cradling her head on his shoulder in the place she most like to be. He could feel her tears on his bare skin.

"Traelyn, I'm so sorry about..."

"No," she interrupted with a finger on his lips, "You were right."

"I hurt you with my words, and I didn't mean to. Now your feelings are so confused, happy and sad, I can't tell if those are tears of pleasure or pain."

"All of those things. I love and want you so much, and as long as we are both Padawans, we have only our masters to answer to, and both of them have chosen to look the other way. But when you become a Knight, you will have to answer to the council. I won't let you risk censure because of me. We will have to stop."

"No! We will find a way, we'll just have to be more cautious."

"You'll be moving upstairs, and Padawans are not permitted to wander the halls there in our nightclothes!" She said with a wan smile.

"I'll be sick every night and call for you to tend to me!" He chuckled. "Ah, Traelyn, I can't give you up. I won't. There are at least a thousand casual affairs going on in the Temple at any time."

"No one on the council would believe this was casual, least of all Master Yoda."

"We will have to behave as if it is. I'm afraid we won't be seeing as much of each other. I could be sent anywhere at any time."

"And so could I, " she replied. "Master Jeran wants to send me on more mercy missions; he thinks I need more real life experience. I have been rather sheltered," she said wryly.

"Perhaps I can be your escort. And, you won't always be a Padawan, you know."

"Hmmm," she said sleepily, "When we're both Masters we'll do as we please."

"I have to go get ready to leave, we are going to Naboo at first light. We're protecting the Queen, you know," he said with mock seriousness.

He slipped out of bed, and tucked the blankets around her. He leaned over and kissed her gently.

"May the Force be with you, my love," she mumbled, and she curled up and fell asleep before his warmth could fade away.

Tenric's Gambit: part III

part III

“Gentle Beings,” the announcer began a moment later. “It appears that Tenric’s Gambit has failed. After his dramatic rescue of a fellow racer and death-defying battle to take the lead it seems…”

The spectators saw it before the announcer had and a sharp intake of breath was heard from everyone followed by a rousing cheer. There on the heads-up display a green dot, Tenric’s dot, had emerged from the backside of a neighboring asteroid. The other two lead ships had just recovered their vectors and were speeding away from the area. The Announcer, having found his voice by now, was even more enthusiastic than before.

“Against all odds and in defiance of reason itself it appears that Tenric not only survived the collision, but is still in the race!” It came out as a nearly unintelligible shriek, but no one was paying attention.

The vid feed hastily swung in the direction of the asteroid and needed a moment or two to lock onto the ship. When it did the cheer died as disbelief took over. There in the center of the display were the remains of Tenric’s Headhunter. One wing had been sheared off near the engines and the nose looked as though it had been chewed on by a hungry rancor. There was a nasty looking black smear behind the cockpit usually occupied by the shield generator and another along the port side. It seemed impossible that the ship was still space-worthy, much less pilotable.

“Wait!” The announcer called out. “It appears that Guurk and Halphon have changed course.”

As the crowd watched in stunned disbelief the two other lead ships took up escort positions to either side of Tenric’s ship. Even as they did one of his engine exhaust valves gave way and was blown off.

“Well now I shall have to retire my friends.” The announcer continued in a subdued tone. “For I have witnessed this day not only the improbable and impossible, but also the height of the racing spirit. I have just been informed that both Halphon and Guurk have comm’d their withdrawal from the race. It appears they are each using their damaged shield generators to extend a bubble around Tenric’s ship.”

There was a burst of traffic over the comm. channel and the announcer continued.

“Both Halphon and Guurk have confirmed their withdrawal. They claim they are honoring the pilot who saved their lives by warning them about the rogue asteroid in time for each to escape the collision. Both affirm that Tenric would have won the race had he not changed course to warn them.”

Surely enough all three ships now flew in tandem with Tenric’s wobbling at the center. Together they moved out of the field and headed toward the finish line. The other racers, having now caught up, came screaming toward the finish trying to beat the limping trio. Their lead had been too great though and all three crossed the finish together a few seconds ahead of the pack. The crowd cheered wildly and several made attempts to hug Dale as he stood there blinking, trying to fathom what he had just seen….

Tenric's Gambit: part II

part II

….Giving his friend’s ship a last glance Tenric looked ahead and focused on the race. He knew Dale needed the prize money to pay off Dalba, the local Hutt Boss, and keep his family from debt-enslavement. The other racers were so far ahead though that he doubted if even the Force could make enough of a difference. Nevertheless he had to try so he opened his throttle to its maximum, switched on the turbo compressors, and sank into the currents around him to see if he could find a way through.

Around him space took on a hazy, yellowish, caste while the myriad asteroids and other detritus wore hues of blue, red, and orange. Knowing his chances were slim Tenric decided that the direct approach would be the best. He set himself on as straight a path through the course as possible. The rules called for each racer to follow a pre-set course, but allowed ample room for course corrections and deviations due to the random nature of the asteroids. Through the Force, however, he could see the pattern behind the randomness. The currents showed him which ones would cross his intended vector and allowed him to make last minute dives or rolls to avoid them.

He ramped his shield generators up to one hundred and twenty percent and willed them not to burn out. He knew he’d be getting too close to some of the rocks and would need the protection. Slowly he made up the distance, shields bucking the ship like an angry rancor, closing the gap as the other pilots wove through a dense portion of the course. Then, after a few near misses, he found himself back in the middle of the pack. It was much harder to pick a course with all the other pilots around him. The individual ripples their thoughts and intentions caused in the currents confused things considerably. Still Tenric was able to gain steadily upon the leaders.

Skirting a tumbling rock the size of a Dreadnaught he cut it a bit too close and was bucked so hard by the shield recoil he almost lost control. The maneuver worked though as it allowed him to leapfrog into third position. He briefly considered staying put, his nerves were a bit frayed from the close call, but the winnings wouldn’t be enough. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, and sending a silent plea to the Unifying Force, he dialed his engines to one hundred and ten percent and hoped the thrust valves didn’t fuse from the over heating he knew would occur because of the turbos…..

….Dale managed to land his wounded Headhunter safely, despite a second engine giving out on the descent and his control panel flaring up once more. Gotta hand it to Incom, he thought, these Headhnters could take a hell of a lot of punishment and fly with half the systems out. Once on the ground, he tossed his helmet to the service droid and headed for the nearest holo-net screen. He found one in the main port hanger that was tuned to the race. A few dozen spectators milled around it as the announcer kept up a running commentary. Dale saw that one ship had been singled out by the producers and knew it had to be his friend’s.

“…Absolutely amazing!” the announcer went on, “that pilot is either insane, or is one of the most gifted idiots in the galaxy!”

Here a sub-screen popped up showing a close up of the ship, identifying it by its markings and number since the transponder signals tended to bounce so erratically off the asteroids they were useless.

“We have an ID on the pilot now. Just a minute.” The announcer was saying, “Yes. It makes sense now. None other than Tenric, out of the Darkwood settlement, is piloting that ship.” The announcer’s tone implied his opinion clearly. “So I was right on both counts then.”

The crowd laughed at the remark, some nodding in a knowing way. On the local racing circuit Tenric was known to be both brash and brilliant. He often took chances no one else even had nightmares about and had lived through each of them…so far. People loved to root for him; especially since most of them believed each race would be his last.

“The racers have cleared the outermost barrier now and are making the far turn to head back through the field in a dash for the finish. Tenric has taken third and is close behind Halphon and Guurk.”

The screen now split top and bottom giving viewers a real-time vid feed on the bottom and a heads up graphic depicting the course, time, and position of the leaders. Dale found himself wondering about the odd things that had happened in his ship. He watched Tenric draw a nearly straight line through the field and take the lead while the announcer was nearly apoplectic with the sheer insanity of what he was now calling ‘Tenric’s Gambit.’ It should have been impossible.

“Never in all my years of racing have I seen such a display of insane piloting! I cannot believe it, but he might actually pull it off!” The announcer was nearly frothing now. “To come from so far back and gain the lead is unimaginable!” Then he seemed to remember the other racers, “Halphon is closing in though, and Guurk is solidly in third. This is still a race any of them can win.”

As he stared at the screen Dale recalled the time he and Tenric had been playing in Darkwood. They had been racing then too and Tenric had suddenly shifted his stride and knocked him clear off his feet. He had gotten up intending to at least break a nose or an arm over the insult when he noticed Tenric in a crumpled heap. An assassin viper, a carnivorous amphibian half-toad half-snake, had bitten him. He had carried Tenric back to his homestead afraid he would be too late. Tenric’s uncle though was a skilled healer and was able to save him. The next day he had visited Tenric and chided him about the fact that he was bitten as repayment for his dirty trick. Tenric had humphed and said he guessed so, but there was an almost amused look in his eye when he did.

It was a few days later that Dale had revisited the spot. Tenric was still a bit weak and had stayed home. When he re-ran the incident in his mind he realized that the assassin viper had most likely been striking at him and not Tenric. By bumping him when he had Tenric ended up in the same spot Dale should have been…

...A blinding flash on the holo-screen brought Dale out of his reverie. A careening asteroid had come from out of nowhere and crossed paths with the lead ship. The other two leaders had pitched violently to avoid being hit and each had been thrown aside by the recoil from their shields. The announcer was silent, and the crowd deathly still. Tenric’s ship was no longer in frame and the heads-up graphic could not pinpoint his location….

Part 4 - THE FOUR FRIENDS

PART I - PART II - PART III

"I'm afraid a lot of the Locarians are like that, Traelyn," Master Jeran said.

"I thought I was Locarian," she replied.

"You are, but you are also Jedi. They have a high incidence of empathy, but they do not trust the Force. Is he empathic?"

"I believe so, but I put my shields up. I told him I was from Coruscant, anyway. I've lived here all my life, after all. Besides, when he asked where I was from, he was making fun of my clothes!" She grinned.

Master Jeran chuckled. "He would never think a Jedi was from Locaria, that much is certain. You appear to be the first one."

"Is that why my family was afraid of me?"

"Where did you hear that?" He asked warily.

"Just a fragment of an old memory, something that Master Qui-Gon said to you. I don't remember it all, it seems I was very ill at the time. Is it true, they didn't want me because I'm Force sensitive?"

He patted her shoulder. "Yes, it's true, according to Master Jinn. You are better off here, anyway, you know that!"

"Of course! Professor Grazloe is very unpleasant, I would not want to be on that planet if they're all that way."

Master Jeran sighed. "I hoped to send you there after you graduate, to see if you can learn some of their empathic techniques."

Traelyn shrugged. "It does not matter to me, Master, I will go where you send me. I can deal with the attitude, it just seems strange to me."

"As you gain more experience out among the public you will find various levels of tolerance of the Jedi. Acceptance of that is something you will learn over time. I will send you out and about on some medical missions before you go to Locaria. In the meantime, lay low and try to pass the class!" He smiled, for he had no doubt she would pass. But he was curious on how she'd deal with a difficult teacher.

* * *

The days and weeks passed, and Professor Grazloe continued to taunt Traelyn about the Jedi in general, and the Force in particular. On the outside she exuded a patience that would impress a Jedi Master, but inside she seethed with resentment.

She meditated on it, talked it out with her Master, and practiced diplomacy and patience. "At least it's good practice!" She joked with her friends.

She worked out with her lightsaber, until she destroyed so many remotes that the swordmaster refused to let her use anymore unless she was using a training saber. She won the monthly dueling championships four out of five times, and no one wanted to spar with her.

And then the day came when the professor brought to class with him a large mug of hot tea. As he sat up his holoprojector for the day's lecture, he bumped the mug off his lectern and the hot liquid poured out towards the electronic device.

Almost without thinking, Traelyn reached out with the Force and caught the mug and tea in midair, reversing the fall of the liquid until every drop was back in the mug and the mug upright. Gently she sat it down on the lectern.

The room was silent, except for Brolton's snickering. Traelyn shushed him with an elbow to the ribs. "Payback's poo-doo, ain't it?" He whispered. Baleen giggled, and Togaron covered his grin with his hand.

The professor stared. "Thank you, Miss... ahhh.... What am I supposed to call you?" He seemed at a loss.

"You're supposed to address her as 'Your Grace'," Brolton said boldly.

"Oh?"

"That's not necessary, Professor, that courtesy is for Knights and Masters. I am only an apprentice, after all." With a shock, she realized that he had not addressed her by name in the five months she'd been in his class.

"My name is Traelyn, or Padawan Zavall, if you choose to be formal," she replied.

"Well, your Corellian friend there seems to think I should be formal," he said, with the closest thing to smile they'd seen all semester.

"I leave that up to you, Professor," Traelyn said. She was anxious for the attention to move away from her, even though she was starting to enjoy it. Payback may have been poo-doo on the receiving end, but it felt good on the giving side.

* * *

"It wasn't very Jedi of me," she told Obi-Wan that evening as they walked the Room of a Thousand Fountains. "I showed him up and I enjoyed it."

"Is that why you did it?" He asked.

"No, I did it without thinking, except that the tea would ruin the holoprojector. I just acted on instinct. But the class loved it, they all felt as if I'd won some sort of battle."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "You did... a battle of wits. It never hurts to have the upper hand in a diplomatic situation, and it sounds like you're in one!"

He looked around the room, and then took her by the hand, pulling her behind Twin Rock. Concealed by the many trees and vines, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "I feel the need to negotiate something, myself," he whispered. "Come to my room tonight?"

She snuggled closer, nuzzling his neck with her lips. "I'll be there."

* * *

The four friends survived the strange professor's class, and graduated at the end of the term. Traelyn choose to serve an internship in a Medical Center that served the poor on the lower levels of Coruscant. Baleen and Togaron went along with her, as did Brolton, but not without expressing his dismay.

"Traelyn, you finished in the top ten of the class, you had your choice of assignments, you could have had Senate Medical!"

"I don't see where treating the rich and privileged would further my education any," she replied. "It certainly wouldn't help prepare me to serve the citizens of the Republic."

"This place is like a...."

"This place needs us," Traelyn interrupted.

* * *

"Why are working as an intern, Traelyn?" Obi-Wan asked. "You don't need a license to be a Jedi Healer." He pulled her closer to him, snuggling her into his arms as they lay together in his bunk.

"I know, but Master Jeran thought it would be good experience for me. Besides, with a license I can practice medicine anywhere in the Republic... just in case."

"In case of what?" He asked, puzzled.

"In case I don't pass my trials," she replied.

"Or in case I don't pass mine?" He asked gently, brushing the hair back from her face. "We did make a pact, didn't we?"

She smiled. "But you won't fail your trials. You're too good at what you do."

"So are you!"

She smiled. "I'm good at the healing arts, but I still struggle with my emotions," she said.

"If I pass mine and you fail yours..."

"Then the pact is null and void," she interrupted.

"No, we promised, if we're not Jedi by the time we're grown we'll leave the order. Together."

She chuckled. "I think we are grown." She caressed his bare chest with her hands. "You were born to be a Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan. I can be a healer no matter what, but you can be nothing else. It's your destiny, and you know it."

* * *

TWO YEARS LATER

Brolton wandered into the café one morning and joined Traelyn, Baleen and Togaron for breakfast.

"I just heard the most unbelievable thing!" He stated.

"Oh?" Togaron asked. "And what might that be?"

"Our friend Traelyn here has been working for free!" He glared at her. "They work us like slaves here, how can you refuse your pay?"

Baleen smiled. "It's probably not allowed."

"I don't need to be paid," Traelyn said simply. "The Jedi Order takes care of me. I have food, shelter, clothing, credits in my pocket, and they paid for my education. I can see why you all need your pay to live, but I do not. And Baleen's right, it wouldn't be allowed anyway!"

"Well, you deserve to be paid! Don't you ever want anything for yourself?"

Traelyn looked puzzled. "Like what?"

He shook his head. "Damn Jedi," he mumbled as went off for a caf drink.

"For an empathic Force sensitive, you're rather blind to his emotions, Traelyn." Togaron commented. "He has really strong feelings for you."

"I'm not unaware that he's fond of me, we have been friends all through school."

"Not fond of you, silly, he's in love with you," Baleen said.

"Oh no, that can't be. I must speak with him."

* * *

"Brolton. You seem to have something on your mind," she said as they emptied their lockers after their last shift as interns.

"Now that our internship is done, I'm leaving for Corellia in two days. I may never see you again." He sat down and looked at his feet.

"If that is our destiny. Life changes, that's the way of things."

"You and your damn Jedi platitudes." He twisted in his chair. "I can't keep it a secret any longer, Traelyn, I love you and I want you to come to Corellia with me. With your skills and that high-society accent, we get you some fine clothes and a new hair-do, you could make a fortune on Corellia doctoring the rich and powerful."

"You know that can't be, Brolton, I am a Jedi. I can never be anything else. And if you really knew me well enough to take me home with you, you would know that I'm not interested in treating the rich or making a fortune."

"You could leave the Jedi and marry me. You said you were free to leave anytime you wanted to."

"Yes, but I don't want to leave, the Jedi are my family. My life is dedicated to serving others. You're my friend Brolton, but I don't love you, not in the way a woman should love a husband, I'm sorry."

"You told us you weren't celibate."

"That's not what I meant. My heart belongs to another."

He looked shocked. "Since when?"

"All my life," she said simply.

"It's your Jedi friend, isn't it, Oba-san?"

"Obi-Wan."

"You've never spoken of him as anything but a friend."

"Because it's forbidden. I shouldn't be speaking of it now, but I trust you, and I want you to understand." She made as small gesture with her hand as she toyed with her Padawan braid. "You're not in love with me," she said.

He smiled, but Traelyn could sense his pain. "You know that won't work on me, Traelyn, but I appreciate the effort."

She twisted the braid and pointed the end of it towards him. "You want to go home and find a nice Corellian woman to marry," she said with a smile.

"Yes," he said somewhat sadly. "Perhaps I do."

* * *

"You seem a little distracted this evening, Traelyn," Qui-Gon remarked while watching her spar with Obi-Wan.

"Well, if you must know, I turned down a marriage proposal today!" She said with a grunt as she held off the downward press of Obi-Wan's saber against her own.

Obi-Wan dropped his lightsaber.

Traelyn stepped back and extinguished her saber. She look at Obi-Wan with annoyance.

"You're not regretting that now, are you?" Qui-Gon asked, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. He knew Traelyn's heart belonged to Obi-Wan. It always had. He rose from the bench. "It's time for me to turn in, don't forget we have a mission first thing in the morning, Padawan."

Obi-Wan recovered his composure. "Yes, Master."

"Goodnight, Master," Traelyn said, as he patted her on the shoulder. A strange feeling came over her, a sense of dread tinged with darkness, but she attributed it to her state of mind after the long and tiring day.

* * *

Traelyn slipped through the darkened halls of the Temple in her bare feet, dressed in a nightgown covered by a cloak, and carrying her lightsaber. She passed her hand over Obi-Wan's door lock and slipped inside.

"Traelyn!" He said with relief in his voice. "I was afraid you weren't coming."

"Obi-Wan," she sighed, as he gathered her close and buried his face in her hair. "I would never let you go off on a mission without giving you a warrior's farewell!"

"But that other man..."

"He was mistaken."

"If I ever came home and found you gone... I don't know what I'd do." He was caressing her back, and running touches of the Force down her legs, making her weak in the knees.

"He didn't want a wife, he looked on me as some sort of a prize to take home to Corellia, a money maker."

She shed her cloak, and placed her lightsaber on his bedside table. As she turned back to face him he flicked his finger at the buttons on her nightdress and they came loose, and the garment slid to the floor.

"I don't want anyone but you, my love. And I never will."

"I promise you will never regret that," he said with a wicked grin.

* * *

When she woke the next morning, Obi-Wan was gone, off with Master Qui-Gon on a negotiation mission with the Trade Federation. Something to do with Naboo, she thought. She put it out of her mind and happily went off to work in the Temple infirmary.

Tenric's Gambit part I

Got another story of Tenric here. Takes place roughly 2 years after Order 66 (-18 BBY) in Tenric's home system.
Here he is full-grown (@21 yrs. Old) and risking all to help a friend in need....

Tales from Soma III: Tenric's Gambit

Part I

"Hutt-Slime!", exclaimed the pilot as sparks erupted from the control panel accompanied by a wisp of smoke. Even before the alarm sounded, a drop in the ship's vibration rate told him one of his engines had just given out. He wrestled with the suddenly sluggish control stick and was forced to concentrate more on completing the race alive than trying to win it.

Several hoots and cheers came over the comm as the nearest ships shot past him to vie for the lead. He watched dejectedly as his hopes for winning literally flew away from him. He needed the prize money badly enough to have risked his life in this speed demon of a ship. Now it seemed as though it had been for nothing.

It wouldn't normally be such a dangerous situation since the fire suppression system would have handled it almost as it happened. The problem, however, was that the system wasn't there. In fact there were a lot of things considered standard that were missing in the stripped down Headhunter he was flying. Speed and maneuverability were paramount in this race so concessions had been made. As it stood now he wasn't sure if he could maneuver back out of the asteroid belt, much less finish the race. Of course, the fire might just deplete his life support and solve that problem for him; or one of the turbo burners could backlight and....

Up ahead one of the racers executed a tight flip-roll and broke from the pack. It turned back in his direction and was shortly flying in tight formation with him...too tight.

"Tenric, get the hell away from me man, she could blow any second!" He shouted into the comm

"Dale, just shut up and listen!" came the curt reply. "Shut down your oxygen and take as deep a breath as you can. Then run the emergency test cycle on the cockpit scrubbers!"

"No way man!" Dale responded, "I can't hold my breath long enough for that trick to work!"

"Then we're both going to die out here." came the emotionless response.

That got his attention. He had been prepared to die in this race if necessary, but not to take a friend with him, especially not Tenric. With him gone Tenric would be all his family had between them and debt-slavery to the Hutts.

"You never do know when to back out my friend." Tenric comm'd in response to his thoughts. "Now do it before its too late!"

Dale wondered again at how his friend had changed over the years. He'd grown from an impish and mostly shy boy to a gregarious and, still a bit impish, young man. The biggest change, though, was that Tenric had become focused in a way that could be scary and had an odd way of looking at you. He thought and reacted faster than anyone should...and he was almost always right. Dale knew it had something to do with Tenric's 'Uncle'. The old man had that same focused intensity and odd far-away stare. Since he left Tenric had.....

"Dale! Now!" Tenric ordered.

Dale realized he had begun to drift off; his Oxygen must be more depleted than he thought. With a shake of his head he flipped the switches and did as his friend instructed. Immediately he felt the rush of air as the scrubbers strained to evacuate all the air in the cockpit. The process took two full minutes and he had never been able to hold hid breath more than one and a quarter.

Just as he was beginning to crave air he felt something clamp itself around his throat. Amid his rising panic he realized he couldn't have taken a breath if he wanted to. His head was spinning and he felt as though he might black out. Suddenly his control stick seemed to move by itself and steer him past an oncoming rock twenty times his size. The pressurization alarm began to ring and he fumbled with the switch trying to get oxygen back into the cockpit. Then the switch just flipped on its own and he heard the life giving hiss of re-pressurization. His throat opened then and he could breath.

"Dale. Dale, you ok in there?" Came Tenric's voice over the comm.

"Ye...yeah. Think so." came the weak reply

"Ok buddy. You'll be safe along this vector. How's your air?"

Dale glanced at the readout. There was enough to get home, barely, but finishing the race was out of the question. He would need to use his emergency canister though in order to make it.

"Get home safe my friend." Tenric comm'd. "Let me worry about the race."

"There's no way you can win now!" he sent back "they're too far ahead!"
"Correllian Ale, cold, at the usual place." was Tenric's reply as his ship screamed off after the other racers.....

Decisions.......

HMmmmm...
I have several Tenric stories either finished or in progress.
SHould I post what I have (in progress or not)?
Should I post only finished stories?
Comments welcomed.....