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Jedi Heritage IV: The Lost Jedi
Chapters 1-4
-Chapter 1-
It's been two years since the infamous battle between Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Learner Anakin Skywalker. Everyone in the galaxy has heard about it. Everywhere that Obi-Wan goes, he is either mocked, jeered, or cheered. Obi-Wan, on the other hand, felt bad because Anakin was his first Padawan and he made a promise to his former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn so many years ago, to train the young Anakin.
But now as he and Jedi Master and Jedi Council Member Yoda stands in front of the destroyed Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan has never felt this lost.
"Evil he has become. From him we must hide."
Obi-Wan looked down at the Jedi Master. He didn't want to admit it, but deep down he knew that the Republic and the Jedi were lost.
"Master..." Obi-Wan whispered.
"Master Kenobi. Lost, all may not be. To Alderaan you will escort Padmé and protect her you will."
"Is there something wrong?"
"Our only hope the Jedi Twins she carries."
"Anakin's offspring."
"Yes. Powerful they will be. Hidden they must stay."
"Until that day in the future."
"Vision you had also."
"Yes, Master. How will I contact you?"
"Leaving for Dagobah, I am."
Obi-Wan was shocked. He understood why they have to hide. He honestly didn't want to escort Padmé to Alderaan. She has caused the Jedi too much trouble. But he was assigned to the job and he was going to do what Master Yoda said. In the back of his mind he remembered hearing that Senator Bail Organa was going home to Alderaan.
"I heard that there's an escort leaving today for Alderaan. If it's okay I would like to follow in my starfighter."
"May the Force always be with you." Yoda said nodding.
"May the Force be with you also, Master."
Obi-Wan bowed and walked away. He saw Padmé and Senator Organa standing at the foot of a ramp to the escort ship. Padmé looked at him.
"Obi-Wan!" She yelled.
Obi-Wan sighed and walked up to them. A million things ran through his mind. He found it unusually difficult to use the Force to quiet his mind and focus on the task at hand.
"Senator. M'lady." He said bowing.
"Please call me Bail. I've resigned from the Senate. It's good to see that you've healed."
Obi-Wan had almost forgot about his injuries from both the Clone War and the fight with Anakin. He looked at Bail and then at Padmé.
"Master Kenobi--"Padmé started.
"Ben. My name is Ben." He interrupted.
"Ben, I'm truly sorry. I can't fix what Anakin did. But please accept my apology."
Ben couldn't say anything. How could he accept her apology for something that her husband did?
"Bail, may I speak with you?"
"Sure."
Bail and Ben walked away from Padmé, but not to far from where they could still see her.
"I have been assigned to escort Padmé to Alderaan. But I need to do something. I heard that you were returning home. Would you take her with you? I promise that I'll go to Alderaan when I'm done with that I need to do."
"Sure. No problem. I'll look after her and make sure that she is safe."
"Thank you."
They walked back over to Padmé.
"Padmé." Bail said.
"Yes."
"You are going home with me. Ben was supposed to escort you, but he's had a slight change in his plans. He will return to Alderaan after he is through."
"Okay."
Ben walked away from them. His starfighter wasn't far away. He still felt bad about losing Anakin to the Dark Side. He walked up to his starfigher.
"Arfour... set a hyperspace course for Tatoonie."
The droid beeped an affirmative. Ben knew that this would be that last time he would see the tall buildings and busy skies of Coruscant. He found some information that his family was still alive on Tatoonie. Maybe eventually he could hide on Tatoonie. He climbed into his starfighter and sat down in the seat. He put his headset on and put the harness on. He pressed a button to close the canopy and hit the ignition switch. Through the sky and atmosphere he flew. He docked up with the hyperspace ring and they instantly jumped to hyperspace.
"Arfour, wake me when we get close to Tatoonie."
The little droid beeped an affirmative. Ben closed his eyes and went into a deep sleep. He saw visions of his past and his future. He remembered his first mission as Qui-Gon Jinn's Padawan, almost losing his memory, and that fateful day 12 years ago when Qui-Gon died. All that he saw of his future was nothing.
"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope." A faint female voice said.
Ben woke up startled. Arfour beeped.
"I'm awake."
Ben pressed a button and they came out of hyperspace. He pressed another button to undock from the hyperspace ring. He took the controls and flew the starfighter to Tatoonie. It's been about 12 years since he has been to Tatonie. He made a decision that he was going to stay long enough to find his family and maybe a good hiding place. He landed outside of a city/town. He pressed a button to open the canopy and hopped out of the starfighter. He reached for his robe and his lightsaber. He placed his lightsaber on his belt and put his robe on. He made sure that the robe covered the lightsaber at all times.
"Arfour, power down and lock up. Stay here. I won't be long."
Arfour nervously beeped.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
Ben smiled and patted the top of the droid's dome. He walked away from the starfighter and walked into the city/town. He slowly walked through the street. He saw a cantina and walked inside. The cantina looked completely full. Of course, Ben didn't know hardly anything about the culture of Tatoonie. In all of his years in the Jedi, some planets he didn't really understand. He walked up to the bar.
"Pardon me." Ben said. "I'm looking for the Lars Homestead."
The bartender ignored him. A band played in the far corner of the cantina.
"Pardon me." Ben said again.
"What?!" The bartender snapped.
"I'm looking for the Lars Homestead." Ben said, with a small unnoticeable flick of his hand.
"The Lars Homestead is a few miles that way." The bartender said pointing out the door. "East out of Mos Eisley."
"Thank you." Ben said walking away.
Ben walked slowly back to the starfighter. Tatoonie's two suns were beginning to set. He didn't know if he would make it to the homestead. He walked up to his starfighter.
"I'm back, Arfour."
The droid beeped happily. The canopy popped open and Ben climbed inside. The canopy closed. Then, the droid beeped some bleeps and whistles. Ben looked at the translation screen that read, "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yes." Ben said smiling.
For the first time in 37 years, he was going to meet his family. He wondered about so many things. Would his family remember him? Ben pressed the ignition switch and the starfighter rose up off of the ground.
"We shouldn't have to go far." Ben sighed.
He took the controls and flew only a few miles to what looked like a homestead. He lowered the starfighter and sat in the cockpit. He waited only a few minutes. The canopy popped open and he hopped out. He grabbed his bag out of the storage hold and walked up to the house. A young man that looked about 20 or so walked outside.
"Hello." He said.
"Hello." Ben answered.
"May I help you?"
"I'm looking for the Lars Homestead."
"This is it. You're a Jedi, aren't you?"
"Yes I am."
"What brings you here? If you are looking for Anakin, he's not here. He hasn't been here in a couple of months."
Anakin?! What connection does he have with the Lars family?
"No. Actually, I'm Ben Lars. I don't remember my family's names, but I do know that I have a brother named Owen Lars."
"I'm Owen Lars. Why don't you come in?"
"Okay."
They walked inside the house. Ben couldn't keep the thought of how Anakin fit into his family.
"Who is it, son?" A deep male voice said.
"Dad, this is Ben."
The older gentleman took a look at Ben and nearly fell out his repulser chair.
"Ben Lars. Son. It's been way too long."
"Dad..." Ben said.
He walked up to him and bent down. He looked up at this father. Tears swelled up in their eyes.
"Ben, this is my wife, Beru."
"Hello." Beru said.
"Hello." Ben said standing up.
"Has something happened to Anakin or Padmé?"
Ben had a puzzled look on his face. He wanted to know how Anakin and Padmé fit into this, but he didn't want to come right out and ask.
"Anakin is our step-brother." Owen said, almost seeming like reading Ben's mind.
"Well, to be honest. Anakin has turned to the Dark Side of the Force."
"I don't really know what you are talking about, but you can't be telling the truth." Beru said.
"It is the truth. Padmé is pregnant with Jedi Twins. This is a dangerous time for everyone. Especially what's left of the Jedi and Padmé."
Beru, Owen, and Cliegg could not believe what Ben was saying. Anakin and Padmé had just been there a few months back. Anakin seemed fine. Both of them seemed fine. Just by looking at them they thought that everything was fine, but it wasn't. So much had happened. Anakin was expelled from the Jedi Order, Padmé resigned from the Senate, and the Clones War was taking place.
"Where is Padmé?" Owen asked.
"She's on Alderaan. Don't worry. She's safe."
Ben suddenly remembered the time that he denounced being a Jedi and then helping Qui-Gon at the Temple. It seemed like everything that he knew was suddenly gone.
"Ben, are you all right?" Beru asked.
Ben couldn't say anything. Even if he could, his family wouldn't understand. He turned and walked out. He stood on a little hill and cried.
-Chapter 2-
Morai Malinze stood on the balcony of her apartment and watched the Dantoonie sky fill with stars. She could sense the disturbance throughout the galaxy. She had heard about the battle and the Jedi killing spree of Darth Vader.
"Morai." A young man said walking into her apartment.
"Hello, Rai."
Morai looked at Rai. He was a sunning young man. He was a few inches taller than her with black hair and beautiful blue eyes. They both were Jedi and they both knew that love was forbidden. But they did anyway. They have been together for most of their lives.
"Morai, there might be some trouble."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"A shuttle landed earlier today on the out skirts. No one got off, but..."
"I sensed it also. Darth Vader has come for us."
"We could hide."
"He would know. If we fight him, there's a great possibility that both of us could die."
"I like the hiding idea. We could leave now and --"
"Rai.." Morai said taking his hand, "We could end this suffering of the galaxy."
"You mean, kill Vader."
"Yes."
"Look, I don't like what's happening either, but you and I against a Dark Lord of the Sith. We couldn't beat him. There's no way."
"He used to be a Jedi."
"I know that. Everyone knows what, but we could not beat him. He's too strong."
Morai wanted to disagree, but she knew deep down and in the back of her mind that they couldn't beat Darth Vader.
"Okay. Let's wait a day or so. If he hasn't found us, we'll leave."
Rai nodded. They knew what would happen if Darth Vader found them. He would kill them even if they did fight him.
A few hours went by. Morai and Rai sat in complete silence. Then, there was pounding at the door. They looked at the door then to each other.
"This is it." Rai sighed.
"Rai..." She whispered.
Everything seemed to go in slow motion as the door busted open and white armored troopers ran in and Darth Vader followed. Rai stood up and looked at Morai. He grabbed his lightsaber off of his belt and ignited it. The blue blade shot up in the air, ready to be used. Rai, then ran to face the Dark Lord, but it seemed that Rai was flying through the air. Darth Vader had his hand outstretched and Rai flew into it. Vader had him by the neck. Rai was struggling to breathe as Vader held him off of the ground.
At the same time, Morai grabbed her lightsaber off of her belt and ignited it. The silver blade hummed to life. She started fighting the white armored troopers. She found it unusually difficult to use the Force, but she continued on. It seemed like the battle was taking forever. Then, she felt something hit her in the back of the head. She didn't know what it was, but her lightsaber deactivated as it fell out of her hand and to the floor. Then, she fell to the floor unconscious.
When she came to, she saw Rai laying beside her. She reached out to him and touched his face. His skin was ice cold. She thought the worse. She then reached out with the Force and couldn't feel him. She turned her head and looked around the room to see if anyone was still there. She didn't see anyone, but that didn't mean anything.
"Rai..." she whispered, "Rai! No! Rai, please wake up."
She sat up and pulled Rai close to her. She cried uncontrollably. Why didn't Darth Vader kill her too? Rai's lightsaber laid on the floor near the door. She looked at it and called it to her with the Force and placed it on her belt. With Vader gone it was easier to use the Force, but there was still some difficulty though.
She looked through a window and saw the sun rising. She gently laid Rai's body down on the floor and stood up. She looked around the room. It was in complete disarray. Her lightsaber laid exactly where it fell when she was hit in the back of the head. She felt the back of her head with one hand as she called her lightsaber to her with the other. She placed it on her belt beside Rai's.
She picked up Rai's lifeless body and walked out the apartment. She walked to a secluded field. She laid Rai's body down on the ground and began constructing a funeral pyre. When she finished the pyre, she put Rai's body on top.
A small bonfire burned not far from where she was standing. She bent down and grabbed a burning stick. She held the stick like a torch as she looked at Rai's body.
"Goodbye, my love." She whispered.
She sighed as she walked around the pyre setting each side on fire. She stopped where she was before. She lifted the hood of her robe and covered her head with it. She stood there with her arms crossed inside the sleeves. She watched the flames of the fire consume Rai's body. Tears ran down her cheeks.
When the flames were extinguished and Rai's body was one with the Force, Morai turned around and walked away. She walked back to her apartment and sat in the middle of the room. She took a deep breath and slowly released it. She quieted her mind and meditated.
She felt a presence through the Force, a presence that she has never felt before. Could it be...
-Chapter 3-
Ben sat straight up in his bed. He sensed something through the Force. A presence that he has never felt before. He got up and grabbed his robe. He put it on and walked through the home of his family. He walked outside and looked up into the star filled sky. There was something very wrong. Did Anakin kill another? Is there another Jedi somewhere in the galaxy? Ben wondered these things. His mind was so much into wondering what was wrong and what to do that he didn't notice Owen walking up and standing beside him.
"Ben," Owen said, "Is everything all right?"
"No." Ben whispered, still looking up at the sky.
"What exactly has Anakin done?"
"He has betrayed the Jedi. We fought. He could have died. I was going to save him, but the Emperor..." Ben said trying to hold back tears. "Now he's on a killing spree."
"Is that why you are here?"
"Partially. The Jedi Twins that Padmé is pregnant with are the only hope of the Jedi and the galaxy. Until they reach a certain age they must remain hidden and separated from each other. I was wondering if you and Beru would take one of the twins." Ben said looking at his brother.
"I'll have to talk to Beru."
"I'm leaving in a day. Can you try to let me know before I leave?"
"I'll try. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Did you go by Ben or did you have a different name?"
"I had a different name. It was Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Oh. What do you think Anakin is doing right now?"
"He just killed another. The number of people he has killed increases more and more each day."
"Another? Who?"
"Another Jedi. He's a Dark Lord of the Sith now. Remember when I said that he was on a killing spree? Most of the people that he is killing are Jedi."
"Why?"
"He's mad at the Jedi and Emperor Palpatine told him to. It's really hard to understand."
"But he was a Jedi..."
"Owen?" Beru said standing at the door of the house
Owen and Ben turned around and saw Beru. She walked up to them and stood beside Owen. He wrapped an arm around her. Owen looked at his wife and then his brother. All three of them stood there looking up at the sky and wished that the galaxy was at peace and everyone was happy.
"Beru, Ben asked me if we could take one of the twins when they are born. I told him that I would talk to you about it. So, what do you think?"
"There's no thinking needed. Of course we'll take one of the twins."
"Okay. I've decided that I'm going to leave in a few hours."
"Why?" Beru asked.
"I've felt a disturbance through the Force. Someone has been killed for no reason. I'll come back after the twins are born. I promise." Ben said looking at Beru.
Ben looked back up to the sky again. He could still sense another through the Force. He had no clue about where to go. He knew that someday Anakin will return and Owen and Beru would be in danger.
Owen looked at his brother. He saw a look of frustration and sadness on his brother's face.
"Are you okay?"
Ben didn't say anything. He thought about all of his friends that have been killed either in the Clone Wars or at Anakin's hand. The one that stuck out in his mind was ShiriKei Celisoe.
What people didn't know was that he, too, fell in love. He fell in love with a fellow Jedi. He slowly closed his eyes and wished away his feelings. ShiriKei was gone now, and there was no reason to dwell on those feelings anymore. He no longer blamed himself for her death at Anakin's hand.
Then Tatoonie's two suns began to rise. Ben turned and walked toward the house. He walked in and towards his room. He grabbed his bag and walked out of the house towards his starfighter.
"Arfour... get her ready for take off and set a hyperspace course for Dagobah."
The little droid beeped a greeting, then beeped an affirmative. Ben put his bag in the storage hold. He heard footsteps in the sand behind him. He ignored them, climbed up into his starfighter, and sat in the seat. He put his headset on.
"Ben?"
Ben looked down at his brother and sighed.
"I fear that I may have put you, Beru, and dad in danger."
"Wha.."
"I better go. I'll be back in a couple of months."
Ben pressed a button and the canopy closed. He pressed the ignition button and the starfighter flew off. They docked with the hyperspace ring and immediately went into hyperspace. Then, Ben decided that he was going to Dagobah to talk to Yoda, then to Dantoonie. If he found what he was looking for on Dantoonie, he was going straight to Alderaan as he was assigned.
-Chapter 4-
Morai continued sitting in the middle of her room. She still felt that presence. She could still feel Darth Vader's evil. She missed Rai very much, but she didn't want to dwell on that. She needed to figure out what to do. All she's ever known was the Force and how to tap into it when she needed to. Of course she did, for she was a Jedi.
She stood up and walked out into the dead streets of the town that she lived in. She's never seen it this dead. It was like everyone was afraid of Vader. She wasn't. The only thing that didn't make any sense to her was why didn't he kill her when he killed Rai. She shook her head and continued walking. She saw no sign of Darth Vader or any of his troopers.
She felt at her belt and noticed that she still had Rai's lightsaber. It hung beside hers. He went back to the building where her apartment was. She took the steps up there and went into her room. She wondered if she was the last of the Jedi. If she was, Darth Vader would be back. She had to get off of the planet fast and go somewhere else. She didn't know where though. She then heard a voice through the Force. A voice so sweet and wonderful.
"Stay a little longer. Someone is coming for you and it's not Darth Vader."
"Rai..."
The voice said that and was gone. Someone was coming for her. Who? No one knew about her and Rai being on Dantoonie. She was very puzzled about this. She didn't know who was coming, but she knew that it wasn't Vader. She was still upset about him killing Rai and not her. It was almost like it was part of a plan. Like Vader didn't want to kill her then, but maybe sometime in the future. She didn't like this one bit. Something was up. Something bad. If she wasn't the only Jedi left, she and the other Jedi are doomed.
She sighed and sat down in a chair. She was getting sleepy. So, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. She dreamed of things that she's never dreamed of before. There were images of her family that she's never met. Images of people, Jedi she guessed, that she never met. When she woke up, she felt like she was asleep for days.
There were a couple knocks on her door. She got up and opened it. At the door stood Ylla. She was a friend of Morai and Rai. Ylla walked in and sat down in a chair. Morai did the same.
"Where's Rai?" Ylla asked.
"He's... he's dead." Morai said
"How?"
"Vader. Vader killed him, but he didn't kill me."
"Why did Darth Vader kill him?"
"Because he was a Jedi."
"But he didn't kill you?"
"No... I just said that."
"Oh, sorry."
"It's okay. I'm the one that should be sorry."
"You? Why you?"
"I snapped at you, my friend."
"Its fine. Do not worry about it. With Rai gone, will you be leaving?"
"I will, but not for sometime. Someone will be coming for me sometime soon."
"How do you know?"
"Through the Force."
"I'll never understand the Jedi."
Morai just laughed and Ylla joined in. Morai stood up and walked to the balcony. She just stood there watching the trees and grass slightly swaying in the wind. She wondered who would be coming for her and when they were coming. She just had to wait and see.
Jedi Heritage IV: The Lost Jedi: Chapters 5-8
©ShiriKei Celisoe and AdmiralTreyDavid
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