Thanks for all the reviews guys…and sorry it is taking so long to update this story. I am working on so many stories at once…its crazy

Destiny of Shadows

Chapter Four-Memories of Stars

"Jazz!"

"In here!" she yelled from in her room.

Cat walked in her door and saw Jazz sitting in front of the mirror brushing her hair. "We got a message from the Council."

Jazz stopped brushing her hair. She froze for a moment and then slowly stood while sitting down the brush. "And?" Cat sighed deeply. "Of course," Jazz sighed. "What else would it be?" They were silent for a long while. "When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow night."

"Okay." Jazz closed her eyes a moment. "Well, we had better get you packed."

"Yes, but there is something I must do first, and you are coming with me."

"But where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Cat told the Jedi they would be gone for a few hours, so Cat and Jazz got in her father's Mini and drove into town. After they have been on the road for a while Jazz asked an uncomfortable question. "You like him don't you?"

Cat stopped breathing. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, you bloody know what I mean," Jazz said with an annoying tone.

"Jazz, why would I ask you if I knew?"

"You never admit these kinds of things," Jazz commented to herself.

"What are you talking about?"

"I always need to say it plainly, and then you deny it, and then it takes days of me pestering you to admit it," Jazz continued talking to herself

"Jazz…"

"And then, unless they make the first move, you deny it to the rest of the world, and I have to pretend to deny it as well, on your behalf…"

"Jazz…" Cat said with frustration in her voice.

"And then it takes forever to admit it to the other person, whom ever it may be…"

"Jazz…"

"And then, finally after you tell the person or they make a move, which is a long while of pointless months, something always goes wrong…and then-"

"JAZZ! Fine! YES! OKAY, YES! I DO LIKE HIM!" Cat took a deep breath, never taking her eyes off the road. "Maybe more than that."

Jazz kept her eyes glued on Cat. "Finally, I thought that might get you to say it. I know when you're irritated you burst with things sometimes you don't mean to say."

Cat had never seen a bigger smile on Jazz's face. She was basking in her victory. After another long silence, which stabbed at Cat's heart, Jazz spoke again.

"So tell me. And don't say you don't know what I'm talking about," she pointed accusingly at her friend.

Cat thought for a moment, on what to say, where to begin. "This isn't just about Anakin, Jazz. It's more than that, higher than that."

"What do you mean?" Jazz asked, repeating the line Cat uses thousands of times.

"It's not just an act of the heart, but there is something pulling us together. I believe there is something binding our souls."

"Something like…the Force?"

"Yes. I mean, look at us Jazz. We met less than a week ago and to others, it would look like we have known each other for years. And I have the symptoms Jazz."

"You mean…"

"Shivering, tingling, falling, dreaming, thinking, on the edge, type fluttering, type in love symptoms," they said in unison. It was a saying they made up in high school when Jazz thought she fell in love the first time. In the end, she wasn't, but the words never changed.

"This is amazing," Jazz said wistfully.

"No Jazz, it's not amazing. It's Hell! We start our journey back to Coruscant tomorrow. And the number one 'Don't' in the Jedi Code is No Attachments."

"Yes, but your father-"

"That's different. One: mother wasn't a Jedi. Two: It's highly unlikely that Anakin and I have a destiny to fulfill together like mother and father. And three: we already have separate destinies within the Force, and neither of them says we end up with another Jedi."

"He has a destiny like you?" Jazz asked taken aback.

Cat nodded. "He told me about it yesterday morning. There is a prophecy in Jedi myth that tells of the Chosen One. This Jedi will bring balance to the Force. In short, he will destroy all that is left of the Dark Side, or the Sith. When Obi-Wan's Master found Anakin, he strongly believed Anakin is the Chosen One, as does Obi-Wan."

Jazz thought a moment. "Cat, no one has ever figured out what your destiny is, only that you have one. If the Force is truly pulling you together like you say, wouldn't make sense that being with Anakin was your destiny. Why would the Force make you do something against the Order, get you expelled, so your destiny never comes true?"

"But at the same time why would it allow me to break the Code? It is there for a reason, and it was not just made up, but was basically written by the Force itself."

This stumped them both. How could anyone get passed that? Then Jazz had an idea. "Cat, what if the Force is pulling you into this because of the future, because of what is going to happen? What if something is to happen that the Jedi Order is not expecting? What if by pulling you and Anakin together could stop that?"

"That's pretty far fetched," Cat claimed. "The Jedi are some of the wisest people in the galaxy. Don't you think they could prepare for anything, even the worst of events? Besides, the Council would not meet something as big as that. Well…I would hope not anyway. They would see it coming."

Jazz was stumped again. Cat was right, they would see bad things like that coming. Cat was fidgeting in her seat. "Is something wrong, Cat?"

"There is something I forgot to tell you about this." She took a deep breath and continued. "The first morning that we went running, our hands touched, and a vision flashed before my eyes." Jazz gasped. "Like the ones my father had of me. It was the face of a teenage girl. Blue-green eyes and very dark red hair, almost black. I knew it was my daughter, but I also felt it was Anakin's as well."

"Do you think it was truly a vision of what is to be, or just wishful thinking?" Jazz shot out.

"There is more to it Jazz. It is unfinished."

"What do you mean?" asked a confused Jazz.

"Even though I only see the one girl's face, there is more around her. More people, but I don't know who."

"So, maybe it's part of your destiny to be with Anakin, to have a child."

"But why? So we can be expelled from the Order."

Jazz thought a moment. "Well, like I said before, to stop something that is to happen, but it will be your daughter saving the future, not you."

They were silent then, until Cat drove into the parking lot of the bank in Wells. "What are we doing here?" Jazz asked.

"I am putting your name on the house ownership. So you will now own everything, along with me."

"Cat! No, I can't-"

"Jazz, you have to. I may not be back for some time." She hesitated. "Maybe never." Jazz looked at her sadly. "I need you to take everything, take care of it. Father would not appreciate it if I just got rid of everything, especially the house." Jazz wanted to refuse. "Please, Jazz. I need you to do this." After much more convincing Jazz finally agreed and they headed into the bank.

After the girls returned and dinner was finished Cat rushed up stairs to start packing. She figured she would get new clothes if taken into the Order, so she only packed a few different things. Her favorite workout clothes and pajamas, along with her father's Manchester United jersey. She packed a few girl essentials, since she was not sure if they were the same out in the galaxy.

Cat then took out a few small boxes to take other things. She took her framed pictures off her desk and put them in the box: a family photo, two others: one with each parent, one of her and Jazz. There was another of her and Lance, but she threw it in the trash can without hesitation. She put in her journal and the latest book she was reading: Eldest. She also tossed in her book that contained all the works of Plato, which her father made her read and study over and over again. Cat went down the stairs to the hideout and brought back up a few things she was putting modifications on, along with her tool kit, which was her laptop and iPod.

Cat then moved into the closet and stared at a little wooden box on the top shelf. After a few moments she called it down to her using the Force. She sat on the bed with the box in front of her. She had not looked inside for almost two years. She opened the lid. A little white box was on top, which she knew contained her mother's bead bracelet, made of beads from all over the galaxy. She slipped in on her wrist. There was a hologram photo of her mother and father at their wedding. Cat admired it for a moment. Her mother was so beautiful, an angel, something she wished she had inherited. She set it aside quickly to stop the tears from falling.

The next thing she took out was a stone charm. Father told her that he gave it to mother the first time they parted. It was a glassy purple stone carved into an exotic flower. She noticed a set of three holocams on the bottom of the box, but immediately set them on the bed. The thing that caught her eye was a book. Her father's favorite book The Once and Future King by T.H. White. He had read the story to her as a young child and since would always tell her stories about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table from memory. Of course, when he told Cat the truth about the galaxy he explained why he adored the book so much. It always reminded him of the Jedi Order and its leaders, and enemies. It has a daunting comparison to it.

But there was something different about the book. Something was kept inside the pages. Cat picked it up and the book flipped open to the page the object was kept. Cat gasped as she saw her parents' wedding rings on a silver chain and what seems to be a letter along with it. Cat held the chain in one hand as she opened the letter and began to read:

My Dearest Daughter,

I knew you would not open this box until the Council came to summon you, and I knew you would not leave without it, so I left you a few gifts. I am not sure how long it has been since I died, but it no longer matters. All that matters now are you and your destiny.

Since the time this letter was written, you have become far better a warrior than I ever thought you would be, and I am so proud of you. Never forget that. You will never disappoint me because you have already made me the proudest father in the galaxy. I could no ask for a better daughter.

I know my passing will be hard for you, but you must be strong. Remember, never let your emotions control you, that is the path to the Dark Side. You must release all your fear and hate into the waves of the Force.

Your destiny may not be easy to find, or an easy path to take, but you must never give up hope. No matter how dark the times seem, there is always hope. Remember what I always told you: There is no worse death, than the end of hope.

I believe in you, my dear Catalina, as does your mother, she always has. But you must also believe in yourself before anything else. You are the only companion you will have on your quest. I'm sorry I can not be there for you during the time that you must find your footing, but I know you will not struggle long.

I feel you will become a better Jedi than I ever was, or ever dreamed of being, and you have always been a better person than I. I love you, daughter, and I will see you again, but not yet. The sun has set on my time, and is now rising with yours. Peace and Justice is our way. I know you will walk straight in the line of good.

Goodbye, daughter. We will meet again.

The tears were falling freely since she read the first words. She re-folded the letter, and placed back in between its pages. She wiped her tears from her cheeks and put the silver chain containing the two rings around her neck. Each time she wiped her tears, more glistened down her skin. She set all the items back in the box except for one of the holocams. She was about to turn it on when she sensed a presence in the doorway behind her.

Cat saw Anakin standing before her. Tears streaked down her cheeks and faint sobs filled her voice. "He," her words were spoke through her sobs, "he had so much faith in me, when I have none in myself." She broke down in heavy tears again, and Anakin was at her side in an instant. She cried on his shoulder as he rubbed her back soothingly. "Who am I, Anakin? What am I to become?"

"You are powerful in the ways of the Force. I know with all that is in me that you will become a Jedi," he said soothingly.

"How can you be sure? What if I fail?" she blubbered out.

"You will not let yourself fail. You know that as much as I. You would choose death before failure."

Cat continued to cry on his shoulder until her breathing calmed. Anakin lifted her head to face him. He wiped her tears. "Are you okay?"

Cat nodded slightly. She backed away from him reluctantly and looked at the wall. They were silent for a long while until Cat spoke. "Was there ever a time when you had no faith? That you were afraid?"

"I am always afraid. Everyday. That I will let Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon down. One of them already gave their lives for my training, and Obi-Wan was willing to defy the Council to do so. I don't want to let them down and prove the Council right." Anakin pushed her back and made her face him. "Be strong and never give up. If there is anything I have learned since I have begun my training, it is that." Cat nodded as they heard footsteps coming up the stairs. They moved away from each other and Cat wiped her face free of tears. Obi-Wan and Jazz moved into the room and looked over the scene. Cat's eyes were red and puffy.

She finally got tired of the staring and waved them over to the bed. "Come, I want to show you all something." The four of them all sat onto the bed. She turned on the holocam and the picture popped up showing the index of all the videos taken. Cat just started on the first one and the index was replaced with the video she selected.

It showed a close up of the face of her father. A younger version of her father. His hair was dark brown and wavy down to his shoulders. There were no wrinkles on his face, and his eyes a young and rambunctious happiness only age can destroy. And he spoke. "Okay, here we are, in my quarters of the Jedi Temple. This is my first ever holocam, and we are going to meet everyone." The camera turned from his face and go around his room. It seemed to be a living area, with big cushions, much like couches, and had a mid-sized table. There were two people sitting at that table. One seemed to be a few years older than her father. His hair was long passed his shoulders and he had a beard and mustache. His hair was just beginning to show a little grey. And beside him was a young boy, about thirteen. He had remarkable blue eyes, and a long braid coming from behind his right ear.

The two women heard Obi-Wan and Anakin gasp. "What?" Cat asked. "What is it?"

They both looked too stunned to talk, and the video went on. "This is my good friend Master Qui-Gon Ginn, and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Cat and Jazz gasped as well. The Master Anakin had told Cat about. She was stunned. And Obi-Wan, as a young boy. The four of them watched the video go on until someone finally spoke. "Obi-Wan? That is really you?" Jazz asked. He only nodded. Jazz began chuckle. "You were so cute!" Cat smiled despite herself, as did Anakin.

Master Jedi Tristan Cavaliere went on. The picture moved closer to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "Little Obi-Wan will be leaving on his trip to build his first lightsaber very soon. Say hi young one." The young Padawan's eyes looked directly into the cam, and he grinned widely before waving.

Qui-Gon coughed in interruption and Obi-Wan instantly went back to work. "Alright, alright, Qui-Gon," Tristan said. "I will leave you alone." He laughed and turned the picture towards him. "Looks like we're back to work." With a wave and a smile he stopped the recording. It went back to the index. Everyone was silent. Nor Jazz or Cat knew what to say to the grim looks on Obi-Wan and Anakin's faces. Cat leaned forward and scrolled down the index.

"Did you ever meet my mother, Obi-Wan?" Cat asked, still searching.

"Once. When we went to Tatooine to solve the revolution."

Cat smiled. "When they fell in love. Ah, here it is." She pushed the play button and another video came up. A woman, long black hair, chestnut skin, bright hazel eyes. She was in a white dress. A man, wearing dressy black and red robes stood opposite her. Tristan and Sharya. It was their wedding day.

"You look so much like her," Obi-Wan commented.

Cat sighed. "That is what father always said."

"Well, except for the streaks in your hair," Jazz pointed out.

"Oh, yes," Obi-Wan nodded. "Why do you do that to your hair?" He turned towards Cat.

Both she and Jazz laughed. For the next few hours they watched videos of her young parents. They watched her trip home on the car as a new born. The last thing they watched was Cat's first step. She had fallen asleep. The other three filed out, turned off the light and closed the door.

Cat woke when a hand was laid on her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open to find Jazz standing over her. Cat looked out the window. Dawn was approaching. "Come," Jazz said. "I figure you would want to see your last sunrise." Cat smiled and got up.

The air outside was cool as they slowly made their way down her usual running path. They were silent for a long time. Neither knew how to begin their last day together, unsure if they were to ever meet again.

Cat jumped when Jazz finally spoke up. "I remember, when you told us-me," she corrected, "about who you really are. Who your father was." She smiled warmly at Cat's nod of appreciation of leaving Lance out of the picture. "I thought it was something out of a science fiction book. Even after seeing all that stuff in the hideout, it took weeks to finally kick in that you were from another planet. That there is more to the Galaxy than what we have been taught."

"That was a very…interesting few weeks," Cat admitted. "At one point, I thought you were going to send me to an asylum."

Jazz laughed out loud. "You know, I actually did think about that." Cat joined her amusement. They sighed after a few moments. "I never thought they would come for you. Well…no. I hoped they would not come for you. But I think, deep down, I knew they would. One day." They stood at the peak of a small hill and faced east. "Did you ever doubt them?"

Cat stared out towards the gathering light. "In the end, I did begin the doubt. Thought they had forgotten about my father. About me. There was even a time when I thought all this was a bunch of bull shit. My destiny." Cat shook her head. "I never thought they would. But they are, and now I find myself being pulled two different ways." Cat looked over to Jazz. "I don't want to leave Earth. It will always be my home. But on the other hand, I wish to leave. To have an adventure, and try and find this missing part of me that has always been there. That I might find my true purpose."

"Cat, ever since you told me the truth, I knew this is who you are. You are meant to be who you are becoming. I just didn't want to believe it."

They looked back to the distance as the sun peaked over the valley. They admired the beauties of the nature around them for a long time until Cat spoke. "I really am going to miss this place. Nothing is going to be like this."

"No, but you will find a thousand other beautiful places besides this one." Jazz took Cat's hand in hers. "I'm gonna miss you." Cat smiled sadly and began crying again. They hugged each other tightly. After a few moments, they wiped their tears and Jazz spoke. "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry." Cat snorted and they walked back to the house.

The day went by slowly. Cat and Jazz reminisced mostly, Obi-Wan and Anakin close, listening in amusement. They did in fact video each other with holocams, so the day could be kept by both of them. They also took care of last minute things. They now set Jazz's handprint to the door of the hideout and to access the navigation table that held the comlink and link to the Jedi Archives. Cat made sure she had all the bank information and all the keys.

It ended with Cat and Jazz silently watching the sunset from the roof of the second floor, in front of the window of Cat's bedroom. They lay next to each other, watching the sky and the stars slowly came out, all without a word spoken. Nothing needed to be said. A goodbye would come later. At this moment, being next to one another was all that mattered.

When they both knew their time was running short, Cat finally spoke. "I will send you stuff or whatever as much as possible."

"You had better."

Cat made sure she was all packed as Jazz was downstairs, making something to eat. Obi-Wan was trying to succeed in helping her. But from all the crashing and laughing that Cat heard from the kitchen, he was failing miserably. Cat closed the last box and looked around the room. It was very bare. She sighed and collapsed onto the bed. There was a soft chuckle at the door. Cat smirked. "I was wondering if you were going to come in or just stand there all night."

She felt a body fall on the bed next to her. "All packed?"

"I think so. But how can you pack a whole life?"

"I had the same question when I left my mother."

"And did you find the answer?"

"Yes. Your memories. By filling your memories of your past life can help you be ready for the next one."

"And how is that working for you?"

"It is not as bad as you think. I really enjoy my life at the Temple, as Obi-Wan's apprentice. And you will too. It will be hard at first, especially for you. It will be a different world. But as time passes, it gets easier. Personally, I think you will like it."

"I will worry about being accepted into the Order before I am about liking it there."

Anakin sighed in frustration. "I told you, you will." He looked at her. "Did your father ever tell you about Coruscant?"

Cat smiled. "The whole planet is one big city."

"It's more than that."

"Really?" Cat raised her brow. "All cities are the same I prefer clean air and no technology as far as the eye can see."

"When we get there you will see." Cat rolled onto her stomach and found herself inches away from him. He stared into her eyes and she stared right back. His hand was just above his cheek when Jazz called from downstairs.

"Cat! Food's ready!" They both looked towards the open door and moved away immediately. They looked at each other hesitantly before they both rose and walked downstairs.

Obi-Wan and Anakin went into the hideout to pull out the ship while Jazz and Cat made her final preparations. They carried her single bag of clothes and two boxes of other items down into the living room. She looked around the place of her childhood and smiled thoughtfully. They set her things on the porch and watched as the small transport landed in the front yard. Anakin and Obi-Wan took her things and carried them on board.

Cat and Jazz looked at each other. They both willed themselves not to cry. "Well, good luck, Cat."

"Goodbye." They hugged for the last time. Obi-Wan and Anakin approached them. Cat backed away and started to the ship. The Jedi said their goodbyes to Jazz and followed her. Just before heading up the ramp, Cat turned and took another look at the house, and waved to Jazz with a smile, and boarded.

Cat slipped off her leather jacket, uncovering her razorback shirt, on the way to the cockpit and threw it over the back of the pilot car. She sat and circled the chair towards the controls. Obi-Wan and Anakin entered behind her. "Don't you think I should fly?" The Mast Jedi asked.

Cat smirked. "If there is any truth to the saying 'Like Father, Like Daughter', what you think?" she teased.

Obi-Wan sighed as he sat reluctantly one side of her. "Well, if that is true, we're in trouble." He had a very troubled look on his face. Anakin on the other hand looked very pleased, and sat on her other side.

Cat belted herself in. Obi-Wan and Anakin did the same. "Why are we strapping in?" the Master Jedi asked.

"Well, if you fly without them you can have no fun." He snorted at her answer.

She reached forward and closed the ramp then pulled the throttle towards her and lifted the shuttle off the ground. She sped over the trees with a huge grin on her face. Cat reached above her and hit a switch which lifted the landing gear. She flew in a spiral towards the stars. Obi-Wan gripped the arms of his chair. On her other side, Anakin laughed. They exited the atmosphere and Cat slowed the speed and leveled out. She searched through the navigation computer and pinpointed Coruscant. "Hyperdrive is ready?" Anakin nodded. "Okay. Coruscant, here we come." She pushed forward a small throttle to her right and the stars became a blur as they rushed forward to her future.