Saga - PT Star Wars: Days of Old (AU)

Epilogue

The ride back to Coruscant proved to be an odd one, as both Rahna and Argoth spoke very little with their masters. There was also no training, and every so often as they sat up front, they would use Jedi sign to speak, but concealed their hands. Rahna knew that something was up, but the question remained what. When she asked Obi-Wan if something was wrong, the only thing he said was he would let her know later.

As the shuttle touched down on the top of the temple, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan secured the ship, then exited without so much as a word. As they stepped off, Rahna looked to Argoth who only shrugged, knowing as much about what was going on as she did. This was out of sorts enough that Rahna finally decided to confront her master about it. After the council briefing, to which they were not invited, she waited with Argoth near the turbolift.

“Obi, what's going on? You've barely said a word to me since we left the planet.” With Qui-Gon standing beside him, he looked down at Rahna. The expression on his face was hard to read, and she knew that he was concealing his emotions, but the question remained, why. Qui-Gon was doing the same as well, but he had never been the easiest to discern. His ability to remain calm was even better than Obi-Wan's.

“Rahna, I'm going to ask you something, and I want you to be completely honest with me. On the shuttle when we were training, did Argoth use the Force?” Rahna instantly realized what it was now, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had realized that something was wrong, and her heart caught in her throat. They had both been busted, and this was something she had hoped to avoid. Unwilling to lie to her master's face, Rahna's head lowered in shame. They must have sensed something through the Force after all.

“No...” When Qui-Gon looked to Argoth, he did the same, but said nothing.

“Why Rahna? I trusted you.” To hear the sadness in his voice hurt Rahna deeply.

“I was only trying to help my friend, Argoth was scared.”

“Scared of what? What do you have to say for yourself Argoth?” Qui-Gon said. The shame she could feel coming from Argoth was as deep as hers, and the fear he'd experienced from before was starting to return.

<S>“I'm sorry Master, I was scared. I was afraid that if the Council found out I couldn't use the Force, I would be expelled.”<S> With the secret now out in the open, Rahna felt a weight lifted off her shoulders, but none the better for it. She had betrayed Obi-Wan's trust, and that was something that had wounded him deeply. Knowing that, it wounded her almost as much.

“The Council wouldn't simply turn him out on the street. Even if Argoth's condition is permanent, he would be assigned a position here at the temple,” Obi-Wan said.

“I'm sorry master, I really am, can you forgive me?” Rahna said.

“I don't think you understand what the two of you have done,” Qui-Gon said. “You lied to us through your actions, cheated, and could have gotten someone killed with your little secret. We're going to have to report this to the Council.”

<S>“The... the Council? Are they going to expel us for this?”<S>

“I don't know, that will be up to them,” Obi-Wan said.

“Both of you will be confined to your quarters until this matter is settled,” Qui-Gon said. They were both escorted to their rooms by their masters, and as Rahna took a seat on her bed, she felt worse now than she had in a very long time. Still standing in the doorway, Obi-Wan was watching Rahna, and though she glanced up briefly, the young padawan couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes.

“I'll have the refectory deliver your meals while you sit here and think about what you did. I'm very disappointed in you Rahna.” The door shut as he left, and Rahna wished that he had opted for sucker punching her rather than saying he was disappointed... it would have hurt less.

****************************************​

The Next Morning...

Standing in the center of the Council Chambers with the other masters looking at the two of them, Rahna wished there were a rock to hide under. Her shame had reached the point of humiliation and she couldn't even bring herself to look up at them. Beside her Argoth stood with his head lowered as well. This was the last place she wanted to be right now, but there was no avoiding it. They had both made a serious mistake, and now it was time to face the music. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were standing behind them, but they might as well have been light years away at this point.

“Padawan Rahna Damsher, Argoth, you stand before us today accused of lying and cheating,” Plo Koon said. “Do you deny this?”

“No,” they both said.

“Then an explanation, you owe us,” Yoda said.

<S>“After my change on Habel, I lost my connection to the Force. When that happened, I became scared and tried to hide this because I was afraid I would be expelled.”<S>

“So in fear of being expelled, you took actions that could lead to that very thing?” Ki-Adi-Mundi said.

<S>“Yes.”<S> Rahna knew there would be no one to comfort her, or say that everything would be alright. Everything wasn't alright, and they were facing the worst potential punishment a Jedi could, possibly being expelled from the Order. If the worst did come, Rahna knew they wouldn't simply be tossed out the front gates of the temple. They would be provided a place to live and set-up in their new lives, but it was still a fate she would do anything in her power to avoid.

“Rahna?” Shaak Ti said.

“I helped Argoth conceal his condition because I didn't know how you would react, I only wanted to help my friend. I admit that I was wrong, and I am truly sorry. I know it won't change what I did, but I am.”

<S>“As am I.”<S> Thinking back not only on what she did, Rahna also thought about everything she'd learned at the temple and from her master. With no small amount of strength on her part, the padawan slowly held her head up.

“You've been accused of lying and cheating, and you hold your head up? Are you 'proud' of what you did?” Mace said, leaning forward in his seat.

“I've never been more ashamed of anything in my life, but a Jedi doesn't hide from responsibility. I will accept whatever punishment the Council decides as a result of my actions,” Rahna said. Mace continued to give her the evil eye, but didn't say anything else. Argoth tried to hold himself up as well, but wasn't fairing much better than her in this regard.

“You, can wait outside,” Mace said. The two walked out of the room to the hall beyond, and it was at times like this Rahna hated that the chamber doors were sound proofed. Both her master and the Council were inside deciding her future, while she just stood and waited.

<S>“I'm sorry Rahna, this is all my fault.”<S>

“No, it's not. I helped you, so I'm just as guilty.” Rahna knew that despite what happened, Obi-Wan would be arguing in her defense. Despite her stupid mistake they'd been friends for too long, and he was too good a man to do otherwise. Qui-Gon would no doubt be doing the same for Argoth. Despite what some might see as a rough demeanor, there was a very compassionate man below the surface. Rahna had seen it before in both his words and actions.

Every minute seemed like an hour, and the waiting dragged on to the point Rahna was about ready to tear her hair out. Being brought before the Council and judged for her actions was hard enough. The waiting on the other hand had both of them pacing back and forth in the hallway like caged animals. When the door creaked open slightly and the light fell upon them, they saw both masters and Council looking at them. Taking a deep breath, Rahna walked back into the center of the room. It felt like an eternity had passed, though it had only been about twenty minutes.

“It is the decision of this council that you will not be expelled,” Eeth Koth said. “However, for your actions you will be demoted to the rank of Initiate. For the next year you will study and relearn what it means to be a Jedi. Especially in regards to honesty.” Rahna's breath caught in her throat, and she looked back at Obi-Wan.

“Your masters have agreed not to take new padawans during this time. At the end of the year you will take the Initiate Trials again. If you pass, you will return to their service. If you fail... there won't be a third chance,” Saesee Tiin said.

“Thank you,” Rahna said, bowing to the Council. The gratitude was honest considering what could have happened. Argoth thanked them as well, and the four walked out of the room. In the hall outside, she turned to face Obi-Wan. “Master, I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt or betray you like that. Please believe me.”

“I believe you Rahna,” Obi-Wan said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “But now it's up to you to prove that you're the Jedi I know you can be.”

“I'll make you proud, I promise.” Argoth had been a short distance down the hall talking with Qui-Gon, and though Rahna hadn't heard what was said, he didn't seem quite so devastated anymore either. Still ashamed of what she'd done, on the way back to the turbolift, she glanced back to see Obi-Wan standing next to Qui-Gon, watching them.

****************************************​

As the doors to the turbolift closed, and Rahna disappeared, Obi-Wan let out a small sigh of relief. Reducing the both of them to the rank of Initiate had been the Council's idea, and something they refused to budge on. The matter of their possible expulsion however was, in truth, nothing more than a ruse. Despite what they'd done it wasn't enough to have them thrown out, at least not for the first offense. The whole point had been to scare them straight, and Obi-Wan was fairly certain it had worked.

He also had no doubt that facing the whole Council like that was something that neither of them would forget any time soon. Even though the deception did hurt, Obi-Wan understood that Rahna had only wanted to help her friend. The two of them had arrived at the temple at almost the same time, and been friends as long as he'd known them. It wasn't out of malice or a desire to do harm that the deception had taken place, but never the less, it was something that had to be addressed.

“I wouldn't worry about them too much. Once the shock wears off, I think they'll redouble their efforts to prove themselves. I still have faith in them,” Qui-Gon said.

“So do I,” Obi-Wan said.

****************************************​

Deep within the ruins of the planet, the only sound to break the silence, was that of Third chanting. Kneeling over Second, with Fourth and Fifth standing close by, one hand rested on the injured woman's chest as she tried to heal her. Sprawled out on the floor Second remained motionless, not even drawing breath. As the chanting continued, Fourth leaned down doing the same, followed by Fifth soon after. All at once Second's chest heaved upward, giving way to a deep gasp before she relaxed. Though still unconscious, she began to breathe on her own once more.

“Will she live?” The voice that issued from the shadows behind them was that of a man, deep and commanding as he spoke.

“I believe so my Lord, but she will need a lot of treatment and rest,” Third said. Stepping into the light, the man was dressed in the same armor as the others, save that it was silver instead of black, with gold accents. Only a head shorter than Fifth, the man was powerfully built, reflected in the musculature of the armor.

“Fourth, see Second home and make sure she is looked after,” the man said. Picking her up carefully, Fourth walked out of the room telling her that everything would be alright.

“I've invested a tremendous amount of time and effort into gathering information on the Jedi, and Second nearly died in drawing them here. What say you Third?” the man said. Still looking after Second, she didn't seem to hear the question at first. It wasn't until Fifth put a hand on her shoulder that the woman's attention snapped back to the conversation.

“Don't worry, she'll be alright,” Fifth said.

“Nothing that I have foreseen will come to pass without her, we need Rahna,” Third said.

“So what's our next move?” Fifth said.

“The foundation has been laid, but our time has not yet come.” Third said. As the man walked down the hall that Fourth had disappeared into, the others followed.

“So be it, we shall do as we have for eons past,” the man said. “We will fade to shadow... and wait.”

 

There better be a sequel. You got me sucked into the mystery, and now I want to know what the deal is with the number people!

 

Of course there's going to be a sequel.

 

Good and involving mystery - guessing that First is either the man or will be Rahna. Congratulations on completing your tale.

 

I'm already 'laying the foundation' for the sequel. As usual, I know what needs to happen in terms of overall plot, but it's a matter of getting from point A to point B at the moment. Expect one heck of a plot twist with Chapter 1.

 

For those interested, I haven't forgotten about writing a sequel to this story, and I am working on it. As is the case often times, life gets in the way and delays things more than intended.