Prologue
Blackness nibbled away at the edges of Qui-Gon's vision. No, he could not give in to the darkness. There were things that must be said first. As Obi-Wan leaned over him, begging him not to go, Qui-Gon tried to choke out his last words. "Train the boy..."Qui-Gon managed. The Jedi Master still had one more thing to say, but blackness overtook him before he could bid his beloved Padawan, who was like a son to him, goodbye.
* * * * * * * * *
The Knighting Ceremony had been brief, for that, Obi-Wan was grateful. Qui-Gon had lived only because of Obi-Wan's tight hold onto his Master's life force. At the solemn ceremony, Qui-Gon had cut Obi-Wan's Padawan braid and had wished him well, but the tension was still there. Obi-Wan was not about to forgive his Master. Not after he had spent 13 years with him only to be dismissed for a boy he barely knew. The words that could have been Qui-Gon's last words had left a deep scar on Obi-Wan's sensitive heart. "Train the boy..." There had been no mention of the devoted Padawan, only of the "Chosen One." Obi-Wan had left for a mission immediately after being Knighted. As Obi-Wan left, he looked back down at the planet of Coruscant. He sighed heavily. Now, he would go face the darkness and uncertainty of the galaxy, as well as his heart, alone.
* * * * * * * * *
4 years later....
"Ani!" A female voice rang through the halls of the Jedi Temple. Thirteen year old Anakin Skywalker turned to meet the smiling face of his friend, Livia Palpatine. Livia's dark blue eyes, which were almost the color of the night sky, but were lined with pale crystalline streaks, sparkled with excitement. "What is it, Livvy? Tell me before you explode,"Anakin said, smiling down at his friend. Livia nodded and composed herself. She gently reached behind her ear and pulled a braid out from the dark, curly mane of hair she had. "You got picked!" Anakin reached out and fingered the new Padawan braid of his friend. Livia nodded. "My Master is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Have you heard of him? He is so nice,"Livia gushed, the smile not disappearing from her pretty face. Anakin's eyes widened slightly. Obi-Wan had been Qui-Gon, his own Master's, apprentice back at Naboo. Obi-Wan hadn't seen his former Master in years. Anakin was sure that Qui-Gon would want to know of his former Padawan's presence at the Temple.
Anakin nodded. "Yes, I've heard he is powerful,"he said politely. "I have to go, best of luck, Livvy,"Anakin said, hugging his friend quickly and turning to find his Master. Livia waved goodbye to her friend, confused by his swift exit. She shrugged and walked off to pack her bags and prepare for her new life.
6 years later....
((6 years after the end of the prologue..meaning 10 years after TPM, and in AotC!))
Ch. 1
Livia looked around the cockpit. She was alone, staring out at the vastness of space. As she looked out at the blue sky of hyperspace, her thoughts drifted to her Master, who was sleeping in the passenger cabin. They had just gotten through with a difficult mission on the planet Ansion and Obi-Wan was fatigued as ever. Lately, he had been having difficulty sleeping. Though they trusted each other implicitly, Obi-Wan was reluctant to tell his Padawan what the reason for his trouble sleeping was. Livia had heard as well as sensed him having nightmares at night, but could only get vague impressions of what was in them. She knew it had something to do with his past.
A small light turned on and a high pitched, yet soft, beep resounded in the cockpit, meaning they would be exiting from hyperspace soon. Livia reluctantly stood to wake her Master. She walked softly back into the passenger cabin. On a bunk, her Master rested. Though he was asleep, his rest was not peaceful. She could tell by his creased brow and slightly pained expression, as well as the emotional pain trickling through their bond. Livia gently put a hand on Obi-Wan's forehead, sending him soothing energies, urging him to wake up. As soon as Livia pulled her slender hand away, Obi-Wan's eyes fluttered open. "Good rest, Master?" Livia's dark blue eyes met Obi-Wan's blue-gray gaze. Obi-Wan shook his head. There was no need to try to hide anything from his apprentice. She already knew the answer which she sought. When she was met with silence, Livia pressed on, "What is wrong, Master? It hurts me to see you like this. You never sleep well any more,"Livia said, her eyes gleaming with intensity.
Obi-Wan met his apprentice's fiery gaze squarely. "That is not important, my young apprentice. What is important is the reality, not the dreams,"Obi-Wan said. The two Jedi stood and walked to the cockpit, steering the ship down to the Jedi Temple. As soon as they walked into the door of their apartment, Obi-Wan's commlink beeped. The Jedi Master stifled a groan. Would the Council ever stop? "Kenobi here,"Obi-Wan answered, sounding serene despite his attitude.
"We have a mission for you. The Senator of Naboo, Padme Amidala, needs protecting. There will be two teams of Jedi assigned to this,"Mace Windu said, proceeding to explain the circumstances.
Obi-Wan nodded. "We will report to her quarters immediately,"he said. As he and Livia stood in the turbolift, Livia brought up a good question. "Master, who do you think the other team of Jedi is?" Obi-Wan shrugged. "It could be anyone,"Obi-Wan replied calmly. As the turbolift doors opened, they were met by Jar Jar Binks. As Jar Jar rambled on about how glad he was to see them, Obi-Wan noticed two other Jedi standing in the other room, one of which had a very familiar form and presence. Jar Jar led them into the other room, calling the Senator over to them. Obi-Wan bowed to the Senator, as did Livia. Then, Obi-Wan turned to the other two Jedi in the room. Obi-Wan bowed to his former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, who returned the bow. "It's been a long time, Qui-Gon,"Obi-Wan said softly. Livia looked quizzically over her Master's shoulder at her friend Anakin Skywalker, who stood beside his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn. The tension in the room between the two men was subtle to the untrained being, yet was easily picked up by the two Padawans. Qui-Gon nodded. "Indeed it has been, old friend,"the big Jedi said, turning back to the Senator. The group sat down and began to discuss the security for the time ahead, the two Padawans all the while pondering in the backs of their minds the reason for the strain between their Masters.
Blackness nibbled away at the edges of Qui-Gon's vision. No, he could not give in to the darkness. There were things that must be said first. As Obi-Wan leaned over him, begging him not to go, Qui-Gon tried to choke out his last words. "Train the boy..."Qui-Gon managed. The Jedi Master still had one more thing to say, but blackness overtook him before he could bid his beloved Padawan, who was like a son to him, goodbye.
* * * * * * * * *
The Knighting Ceremony had been brief, for that, Obi-Wan was grateful. Qui-Gon had lived only because of Obi-Wan's tight hold onto his Master's life force. At the solemn ceremony, Qui-Gon had cut Obi-Wan's Padawan braid and had wished him well, but the tension was still there. Obi-Wan was not about to forgive his Master. Not after he had spent 13 years with him only to be dismissed for a boy he barely knew. The words that could have been Qui-Gon's last words had left a deep scar on Obi-Wan's sensitive heart. "Train the boy..." There had been no mention of the devoted Padawan, only of the "Chosen One." Obi-Wan had left for a mission immediately after being Knighted. As Obi-Wan left, he looked back down at the planet of Coruscant. He sighed heavily. Now, he would go face the darkness and uncertainty of the galaxy, as well as his heart, alone.
* * * * * * * * *
4 years later....
"Ani!" A female voice rang through the halls of the Jedi Temple. Thirteen year old Anakin Skywalker turned to meet the smiling face of his friend, Livia Palpatine. Livia's dark blue eyes, which were almost the color of the night sky, but were lined with pale crystalline streaks, sparkled with excitement. "What is it, Livvy? Tell me before you explode,"Anakin said, smiling down at his friend. Livia nodded and composed herself. She gently reached behind her ear and pulled a braid out from the dark, curly mane of hair she had. "You got picked!" Anakin reached out and fingered the new Padawan braid of his friend. Livia nodded. "My Master is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Have you heard of him? He is so nice,"Livia gushed, the smile not disappearing from her pretty face. Anakin's eyes widened slightly. Obi-Wan had been Qui-Gon, his own Master's, apprentice back at Naboo. Obi-Wan hadn't seen his former Master in years. Anakin was sure that Qui-Gon would want to know of his former Padawan's presence at the Temple.
Anakin nodded. "Yes, I've heard he is powerful,"he said politely. "I have to go, best of luck, Livvy,"Anakin said, hugging his friend quickly and turning to find his Master. Livia waved goodbye to her friend, confused by his swift exit. She shrugged and walked off to pack her bags and prepare for her new life.
6 years later....
((6 years after the end of the prologue..meaning 10 years after TPM, and in AotC!))
Ch. 1
Livia looked around the cockpit. She was alone, staring out at the vastness of space. As she looked out at the blue sky of hyperspace, her thoughts drifted to her Master, who was sleeping in the passenger cabin. They had just gotten through with a difficult mission on the planet Ansion and Obi-Wan was fatigued as ever. Lately, he had been having difficulty sleeping. Though they trusted each other implicitly, Obi-Wan was reluctant to tell his Padawan what the reason for his trouble sleeping was. Livia had heard as well as sensed him having nightmares at night, but could only get vague impressions of what was in them. She knew it had something to do with his past.
A small light turned on and a high pitched, yet soft, beep resounded in the cockpit, meaning they would be exiting from hyperspace soon. Livia reluctantly stood to wake her Master. She walked softly back into the passenger cabin. On a bunk, her Master rested. Though he was asleep, his rest was not peaceful. She could tell by his creased brow and slightly pained expression, as well as the emotional pain trickling through their bond. Livia gently put a hand on Obi-Wan's forehead, sending him soothing energies, urging him to wake up. As soon as Livia pulled her slender hand away, Obi-Wan's eyes fluttered open. "Good rest, Master?" Livia's dark blue eyes met Obi-Wan's blue-gray gaze. Obi-Wan shook his head. There was no need to try to hide anything from his apprentice. She already knew the answer which she sought. When she was met with silence, Livia pressed on, "What is wrong, Master? It hurts me to see you like this. You never sleep well any more,"Livia said, her eyes gleaming with intensity.
Obi-Wan met his apprentice's fiery gaze squarely. "That is not important, my young apprentice. What is important is the reality, not the dreams,"Obi-Wan said. The two Jedi stood and walked to the cockpit, steering the ship down to the Jedi Temple. As soon as they walked into the door of their apartment, Obi-Wan's commlink beeped. The Jedi Master stifled a groan. Would the Council ever stop? "Kenobi here,"Obi-Wan answered, sounding serene despite his attitude.
"We have a mission for you. The Senator of Naboo, Padme Amidala, needs protecting. There will be two teams of Jedi assigned to this,"Mace Windu said, proceeding to explain the circumstances.
Obi-Wan nodded. "We will report to her quarters immediately,"he said. As he and Livia stood in the turbolift, Livia brought up a good question. "Master, who do you think the other team of Jedi is?" Obi-Wan shrugged. "It could be anyone,"Obi-Wan replied calmly. As the turbolift doors opened, they were met by Jar Jar Binks. As Jar Jar rambled on about how glad he was to see them, Obi-Wan noticed two other Jedi standing in the other room, one of which had a very familiar form and presence. Jar Jar led them into the other room, calling the Senator over to them. Obi-Wan bowed to the Senator, as did Livia. Then, Obi-Wan turned to the other two Jedi in the room. Obi-Wan bowed to his former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, who returned the bow. "It's been a long time, Qui-Gon,"Obi-Wan said softly. Livia looked quizzically over her Master's shoulder at her friend Anakin Skywalker, who stood beside his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn. The tension in the room between the two men was subtle to the untrained being, yet was easily picked up by the two Padawans. Qui-Gon nodded. "Indeed it has been, old friend,"the big Jedi said, turning back to the Senator. The group sat down and began to discuss the security for the time ahead, the two Padawans all the while pondering in the backs of their minds the reason for the strain between their Masters.