Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its names, worlds, titles, etc. The only ones that are mine are Ranil Starwing, Varlas Starwing, Linka Akil, Kappa, Jorman, Aersa Mun, Sienna Talnayr, etc.
This is my most long-term story so far. There are some references to Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, such as aspects of Dantooine and Onderon. I would note that, though the plotline may appear similar to that of the above game, it is in no way, shape, or form taken deliberately from the game. I wrote the basic outline long before I even knew there was a game, and even I was startled at the similarities.
Also, and I fear it has been scaring readers away (correct me if I'm wrong here), I think that some people are getting very confused by the first section of this chapter. My advice is: DON'T BE. It's only a dream, and dreams are bound to be vague (I know mine are.) Everything will get much clearer, I promise you.
So, read and enjoy! (And I appreciate any comments/critiques/advice you readers might have with this. Thanks!)
It was bright and clear, sunlight streaming through the crystal windows and illuminating the whole room with its warm, friendly rays. Several figures, unidentifiable but just as amiable, stood casually against the walls, watching with interested eyes. It was as everything should be, an ordinary morning.
He stood in the middle of the room, also watching. He could feel the cold metal in his hand, his fingers grasping it, running along the familiar contours and ridges of the object he had depended on for so many years. Years of joy, of experience, of pain and sadness, of countless emotions and times that had forged him, like a battle-scarred sword, into who he was. Like all things, he had changed, but regret had not come with the changing. Without it, this moment never would have existed.
He smiled, even as him thumb moved to pressure the small, protruding circle of the cylinder in his hand. The energy seemed to leap out, springing forth in a burst of emerald light. It was humming, sending tiny, pulsating vibrations through his fingers. It was all so familiar, and a separate, detached part of his mind seemed to be telling him he had been here before.
Her eyes narrowed, and from her hand, too, sprang a blade of light. Then it doubled, and he was faced with two unwavering bars of green energy. But he remained calm, the mild smile still playing around his lips and he watched. Watched and waited.
It began suddenly, as he had anticipated. A whirlwind of emerald flashed out at him and he coolly moved away, flicking his wrist as he did so. Sparks flew from the collision. He saw her dart in a different direction and moved to intercept her. This was where he belonged– in the eye of the storm, with a tremendous sense of calm despite the battle raging all around him. He felt it flowing through him, the very life-force of the galaxy swirling through his mind. He hoped she was feeling it, too, using it as she danced around him. A feeling of pride filled him as he watched her, sensing her concentration. Pride motivated by his knowledge that it was he who had brought her to this point, he who had trained and guided her until she was nearly on his level. His expectations were high, and he knew she was striving her utmost to achieve those goals.
Then a cloud seemed to cover the sun. Its rays faded into grey, the figures at the edge of his vision growing darker, more hostile, even malicious. The room swirled around him, everything blurring into a stream of dulled color. Images flashed before his eyes, swift to come and departing just as quickly as they were swept out of his sight. A circular room with a strangely patterned floor, twelve figures sitting silently as stone statues as they listened to someone, someone whose sadness and regret nearly pierced his mind… a barren terrain, rocky and desolate, and a figure, cloaked in black, moving through a haze of persons and suddenly attacking… a woman in a dark robe crying out, then forced to strike… a girl kneeling in a darkened room, sparkling tears falling like rain from her bowed face…a sharp cry, a cry of loss and despair echoing through the vaults of his confused mind, striking him as though a keen knife had been plunged in his heart…
He could feel her pain as though it were his own, he knew she was losing control… anger dominated her thought and he could no longer reach her… she was drawing away, cloaking herself in her rage… she felt hurt and betrayed, and there was nothing he could do, nothing except watch her disappear as she passed out of his life…
With a startled gasp, Cin Drallig's eyes flashed open. It was dark here, too, but only because it was several hours before dawn in the Jedi Temple. The sounds of Coruscant speeders and freighters was muffled as the Jedi Master lay there silently, his thoughts on his unnerving dream. It had seemed so real, yet the once-vivid images were already fading, like grains of sand slipping through his fingers. Cin wearily passed one hand over his eyes.
Why had he experienced this vision now? True, it had haunted him nearly eleven years ago, filling his nights with pain to the point where he went for days with scarcely any sleep. But he had learned to live with it, and eventually accept it, and the nightmares had slowly faded away until, though not gone entirely, they had retreated to a dark corner of his mind where he could avoid looking at them. So why, why in the galaxy was he recalling these events now?
After lying there for another quarter of an hour, he determined it was going to be near impossible for him to fall asleep, so he rose, pulled on a brown robe over his tunic, and wandered out into the hall. The general air of the Temple seemed to reflect his mood– grey, somber, and silent. There was a peculiar feeling welling up inside of him, but he was at loss to identify it. At the edges, it seemed to be somewhere along the lines of anticipation, a sort of dread expectation. But anticipation of what? He could tell that, whatever it was, it was most definitely not something to look forward to. Did it, perhaps, have something to do… with her? With what had happened to create those long nights of pain-filled visions?
How long he had been pacing down the halls and corridors he didn't know. It must have been an hour at least, all the while with his mind firmly fixed on a dream that could easily be misinterpreted or that might have no significance at all.
It was just before dawn when Cin heard soft footsteps behind him. The accompanying tap of a wooden stick immediately identified who it was. Cin turned and acknowledged him with a small nod of his head. "Master Yoda."
The wizened master looked at him shrewdly. "Troubled, you seem, Master Drallig," he noted with his usual perception.
Cin hesitated. "I am," he agreed finally, with a heavy sigh. After all, trying to hide something from Yoda was about as easy as facing an angry kinrath with only a broken lightsaber. "You remember what occurred eleven years ago, and the… dreams I had following it?"
Yoda nodded. Cin doubted he ever forgot anything.
"Well, they… they seem to be coming back and just as vividly… as though it just happened yesterday. I don't know what to make of it, except that it might have something to do with…" His voice trailed off. It was painful enough without saying it aloud.
"Exactly the same as before, hmm?" Yoda questioned, tapping his stick absently.
Cin paused, trying to remember. "No," he said slowly after a moment. "Not exactly. I sensed more anger, more… feeling of betrayal. And not as much sadness. As though," he went on, venturing, "as though she had hardened herself against her grief and drew strength from her anger."
His face creased in thought, the venerable Jedi did not answer.
"I am… not sure what to do," Cin admitted. "It feels like something is going to some of it, but I don't know what." He was feeling very relieved now that he had had a chance to let his thoughts out to someone. Even though he was a senior Jedi Master himself, he still depended on Yoda, who had always seemed to be there. Most likely it was similar with every Master, Knight, and Padawan in the Temple. For the next few hours, regardless of the time passing by, he talked with Yoda, letting out his worry, anxiety, and even traces of fear at what might come in the future. He did not push for advice, and expected no judgment on Yoda's part. None came.
It was much later when the not-altogether-unexpected summons came from the members of the High Jedi Council. Cin had known, somehow, that his dream was not just an ordinary vision– there was no reason for his mind to be recalling things of the past just because it was getting bored. No, he was certain that something has triggered the nightmare, some premonition in the Force.
And so it was with a returning feeling of hesitation that he made his way to the Council chamber in the center pillar of the Temple.
Upon entering, his worry increased tenfold, for the face of each Council member was looking at him bearing a mixed expression of seriousness and sympathy. Cin took a deep breath and nodded, bracing himself. He knew what was coming even before the stern Mace Windu broke the oppressive silence.
"Ranil Starwing has been sighted on the world of Dantooine and in possible contact with Count Dooku. She must be apprehended and brought here."
He paused.
"I am sorry, Cin."