Disclaimer:  I do not own some of these characters, planets etc.  I do own a few but Lucas owns the rest.
Synopsis:  Five months before TPM. Mary is 30, Obi-Wan is 25.  Qui-Gon’s first apprentice returns to Coruscant and meets Obi-Wan. Obi is Qui-Gon’s second padawan. There is no Xantos.

Chapter 1

When Jedi Mary Rodel returned to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant after a five-year mission she felt a strange disturbance in the Force. She figured it was nothing and shrugged it off. Mary was glad she finally had some time to rest, but she still felt something…

Mary walked through the halls of the great temple, bumping into people she knew at every turn. As she walked she literally ran into Master Mace Windu, and she quickly apologized for not watching where she was going. He told her that it's okay and that the council wished to see her soon to hear about her last mission. She told him she would come in a few days.

----

After casually walking around the corridors of the temple for an hour or so Mary went to her small quarters she had for when she was on Coruscant. When she got to her room and began to unpack the small bag that contained he things from he last mission. She soon realized what the disturbance was… it was Qui-Gon Jinn. He was also in the temple; she could feel it. After she settled herself back into her quarters Mary walked to Master Qui-Gon's quarters. When she arrived she knocked on the door and Qui-Gon answered it.
When the door opened Mary casually removed the hood of her robe uncovering her face. Qui-Gon stared at her for a few moments and the next thing she knew she was being embraced by Qui-Gon.
When Qui-Gon finally let go of Mary, she stepped forward a few feet into the room and said, "It's been a long time, a long time."
"Look at you," Qui said when Mary took off her robe and put it on a hook. "You've grown up since the last time I saw you. I know you probably hear that a lot but its true." "Thanks Master, how long has it been? Five years, I think that would be right before my last mission."
"That's about right. Hey, Mary. I just noticed that's not your old lightsaber. What happened to it?" The Jedi Master asked. "Well, lets just say that it meet its demise earlier then expected." Mary said visually grimacing at the mention of her lost saber. "Do you care to expand on that?" Qui asked sounding more and more like he did when he was Mary's Master.
"No, I don't particularly care to expand, but I will. I was on mission once and I was walking through caverns with flowing lava and blaster bolts fired, I blocked them and I lost my balance on a rock and nearly fell into a pool of lava. I could have kept the airborne saber or myself from falling into the lava, so therefore I choose to let my saber bite the dust. So I worked hard and made a new one, its still blue I'm proud to say."
"Why didn't you use the Force to retrieve the saber from the lava?" "It melted before I could rescue it. You know…I've never meet you padawan, what's his name again?" Mary said changing the subject.
Just then another, yet much younger man, younger then Mary came through the other door. He had a puzzled look on his face, "Master, who is this?"
"Obi-Wan, we were just talking about you. I would like you to meet my first padawan, Jedi Mary Rodel. Mary," Qui said turning to face Mary, "This is my padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi." The younger Jedi and the padawan walked forward and shook hands. "It's nice to meet you." Mary said. Obi-Wan just nodded.
"Come on you two! Come sit, we have a lot of catching up to do." Doing as Qui-Gon said, Mary and Obi-Wan stepped further into the room to a small couch and two chairs. Mary sat on the couch and the men both took a chair.
"So, Mary you were Qui-Gon's first padawan?" Obi-Wan asked trying to find more about Mary. "Yes, I was, but we were friends long before that. Qui-Gon actually saved my life when I was very young," was Mary's reply. "How exactly did he save you?"
"Well," Mary began, "Both of my parents were Jedi and they were on a long secretive mission to the Corporate Sector when I was born. They had my medicholirian count checked and I was, like them to become a Jedi. Because they were on a dangerous mission they couldn't take me to Coruscant and it was also too dangerous to have someone get me, so the council gave them special permission to begin training me. When I was five their mission was over and I was to be taken to Coruscant to be trained with other Jedi initiates. We chartered a Republic transport to Coruscant. When we were aboard our ship was taken captive by bounty hunters that like to kill Jedi in their spare time. I remember one of them very clearly she was tall and very pale, she was bald except for a high red ponytail, and she was very menacing looking. I also recall her having a lightsaber and when she was leaving she had 3, she took my parents. They came aboard and began to torture and kill all aboard." Then Mary broke down crying and Qui-Gon went and put his arm around her and said, "Do you want me to finish the story?"
"No. No. I'm ok." She said wiping her tears with her sleeve. "It was 25 years ago, I need to say it, it's in the past… 'There is no emotion, there is peace'" Mary said quoting the Jedi code.
"Alright, go ahead and finish." Qui-Gon replied in his deep soothing voice.
"Our captain sent out a distress signal. Then they killed him. By the time another ship arrived the hunters left, but not before they had killed all aboard, even my parents. But the last thing my parents told me to do was hide until help arrived and to remember that the Force would always be with me. I hid in a corner using the Force to distract the hunters away from where I was hiding. I think a day passed before help came. A team of four Jedi also headed to Coruscant picked up the distress and went looking for survivors. They came aboard and found all dead. When they were leaving a newly knighted Jedi said he had to go back, the others waited laughing at him saying there was nothing there. But when he came back he was carrying a small girl in his arms and she was dressed as a Jedi and crying over the loss of her only family members.
When the four Jedi and I got on their ship Qui-Gon took me into a small room, gave me something to eat and to checked me out for any scrapes and bruises I might have acquired during the small battle. He asked me my name and I told him I was Mary Rodel and I was going to be a Jedi.
When we got to Coruscant Qui-Gon took me to see the council and they had me take the classes of a normal Jedi initiate. When I was 10 I became Qui-Gon's first padawan learner. We had a lot of fun together, and I learned a lot, when I was 19 I passed the trials. Qui-Gon became a Master and I was a Jedi Knight."
"Then," Qui-Gon interrupted, "I took Obi-Wan on was my padawan and now here we all are together."

Chapter 2

After hours of talking with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, Mary returned to her own quarters hoping to find some of the rest she had come to Coruscant to find. When Mary woke the next morning the temple was already abuzz with activity, but Mary just rested.
In the mid-afternoon Mary went before the council and explained what happened on her mission, investigation of slavery on outlying Republic planets. When Mary was all done with the council she left the temple and walked out into the vast city planet of Coruscant. She looked up to see the familiar air taxies; tall buildings and she remembered how much she really loved Coruscant. It was her home.
After a brief reminisce she went to a small restaurant where she was surprised to see Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. She wandered over to their table and asked to sit with them and they said she was welcome to join them. " I should have know you would be here Qui, you always used to come here when I was your padawan."
Tonight it was Master and apprentices turn to tell about their own adventures, Mary was fascinated to hear what they went through and enjoyed hearing all that had happened to Qui-Gon when she wasn't there.
According to Obi-Wan he and his master had been from one side of the galaxy to the other, seeing all sorts of places and people along the way. The trio kept talking until hours later the owner had to ask them to leave because it was time to lock up. They continued to talk as they walked back to the temple when Mary said she had so get back to her quarters. Once again the friends said good bye, even though they knew that they would see each other again soon.

----

After a few days of rest Mary was asked to do a demonstration for a lightsaber sparring class with her friend Bobhe Caday. Actually Bobhe was the person who taught Mary when she took the same class many years before. When Mary arrived to the room the doors slid open. When it opened completely Mary was stunned to see dozens of Jedi initiates to listen to her.
When the instructor spoke to the class telling them why Mary was here he said, "I have asked Jedi Mary Rodel here today to demonstrate some maneuvers and tricks a Jedi uses in a battle situation. Also Mary was a padawan of Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who as you know is one of the best swordsmen ever to hold a lightsaber. So, Mary…begin."
"Thank you Master Bobhe, I am very happy to see so many people came to listen to me. I mean I'm kinda boring." The class burst into a short fit of giggles and Mary continued. "I will show you a few things Qui-Gon taught me. These things may save your life at some point and using them correctly will be to your advantage in combat, but remember only to use combat when it is a last resort and you have no other options. Always remember a Jedi's job is to protect the innocent and keep the peace in the galaxy. Now, wake up because now it's time for the fun stuff." Mary then ignited her lightsaber and stood in the ready position in front of the class facing Bobhe who was also holding a lightsaber. He was going to help demonstrate with Mary. Neither was using their normal lightsabers. They were using training ones so no harm would be done to the other.
Mary helped out in class for many hours showing how to use a lightsaber against another lightsaber, a blaster and other miscellaneous weapons until Bobhe dismissed the class. He thanked Mary and she went back to her quarters but not before promising she would be back to help sometime again.
After such a strenuous sparring session Mary decided to meditate in her room. She sat on the floor with her legs crossed with her hands in her lap facing the door, Qui taught her to always meditate facing the door so incase an intruder came in she would be prepared to defend herself. She just let her mind wander and she let go of all her thoughts. She drifted away to a peaceful place in the back of the mind. Suddenly Mary was shot back to reality when someone knocked on her door. And I'm ready to defend myself if needed she thought. Through the Force she sensed whom it was so she said, "Come in."
The door opened and Obi-Wan walked in and Mary stood up to greet him. Obi-Wan shut the door behind him then said, "Hello, how are you today? Did you enjoy teaching the students?"
"Well hello to you too. I'm fine and yes I really enjoyed my demonstration and the kids were really nice and a pleasure to work with."
"That's good, but the reason I came to see you is Qui-Gon is talking to the council about our last mission and I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk in the gardens with me?"
"Sure, let me grab my robe." Mary stretched out her hand and her brown robe flew into it and she put it on and walked out the door with Obi-Wan. As soon as Mary and Obi-Wan rounded the first corner a figure in all black began slowly following them.

Chapter 3

"It's a nice day." Mary commented to Obi-Wan as they reached the artificial gardens. He looked up. All he saw was tall building and air taxies, but from the sky and other things that he was accustomed to seeing in the sky, but aside from them. It was indeed a nice day. The two Jedi walked through the winding gardens talking about everything from old memories to the funny things they noticed Qui-Gon did. Someone else was in the gardens on that day, the figure in black still trailing the pair from a distance. The Jedi didn't notice the dark figure, Hard to see the Dark Side is Master Yoda always said.
When the two Jedi reached an open space they both sat down on a low wall and continued talking. Then they both suddenly became very quiet when a low voice echoed across the garden. "So, it is you. You, Obi-Wan will now pay for the biggest mistake you ever made."
The voice continued as the dark figure belonging to the voice became visible across the courtyard, "You took my Master. Qui-Gon was supposed to take me on as his second padawan after that…girl…Mary. I wanted to be the padawan of the great Qui-Gon Jinn. But I was sent to the Argie Corps to be untaught all I had learned because I was drawn to the Dark Side of the Force. Qui-Gon could have followed me, he could have been my dark master, but I had to teach myself all I have learned. So now you will die for his choice of you over me." As the dark figure finished he removed his black hood revealing the face of an old friend of Mary's, or at least someone who used to be her friend.
The dark Jedi drew out his lightsaber and a red glow fell to the ground as the dark one prepared for the battle. At the same time Obi-Wan and Mary removed their hoods and ignited their own lightsabers both the color blue. The two good Jedi drew closer to the dark one also ready for the now inevitable battle. The three paced each other off slowly watching the others every move.
Then without warning the dark Jedi swung his lightsaber around. The other Jedi easily deflected the swing; both of them trained by Qui-Gon Jinn. The three were quickly drawn into the dance and the art that was defense. Then even faster than before the dark one twirled his saber over his head almost hitting Obi-Wan, but it was stopped short by his old friend. Mary held her once friend at bay while Obi-Wan rushed behind the dark one in an attempt to stop the fighting. The dark one sensed Obi-Wan's move and as he swung his blade again over his head to deflect Obi-Wan's oncoming move. As the blade traveled over his head the red blade hit Mary directly in the abdomen, the blade seared through her clothes hitting her skin and she collapsed to the ground.
Obi-Wan saw what happened and he wanted to go to her side and tell her she'd be all right but he had other things he had to deal with at the time. After what seemed like hours that were actually only minutes Obi-Wan fought the dark Jedi alone. Finally he found an opening in his defense and he took that opportunity and cut him so badly that his death was almost instantaneous. Now he ran to Mary's side and whispered into her ear and told her she would be all right, and just to hang on for a few more minutes.
After he spoke to her he picked her up and held her close to him and ran as fast as he could to the healers in an attempt to save her. At every corner people stopped and stared at the young apprentice running with a limp body in his arms. When he reached the healer he flung the doors open with the Force and called the nearest human healer over to him to help Mary. He explained that she was hurt really badly and she needed a lot of help…now! Obi-Wan put Mary on the nearest bed and stepped back a few feet so the healers could get to Mary.
Mary was barley conscious while all this was happening. The injuries she sustained were very serious, but she would live. Mary was complaining of headaches, probably a concussion from when she fell to the ground. Hoping to help relieve the pain Obi-Wan put his hand over her temples and the pain slowly disappeared. One of the healers told Obi-Wan that Mary would live, but she might not fully recover some things. Only time would tell.
Obi-Wan walked over to a corner where he pulled a small comlink out of his utility belt and he spoke into it. "Qui-Gon?" "Yes, Obi-Wan? Is it important? I'm speaking to the council." The Jedi Master patiently replied. "Yes master. It's Mary. We encountered a dark Jedi in the gardens. He tried to kill us. I killed him in self-defense, but he got Mary. She's hurt really badly. Please come to the healers." "Sithspawn…" The usually laid-back Jedi master muttered under his breath.

----

While Obi-Wan was speaking to Qui-Gon over his comlink, some of the council members around him noticed the color was beginning to drain from his face as he heard the news.
Qui-Gon swallowed hard and held his comlink to his mouth and spoke into it. "I'm on my way my young apprentice." Qui-Gon turned and faced Master Yoda and said, "My Master, I have just received word that Mary and Obi-Wan were attacked in the gardens by a dark Jedi. Obi-Wan slew him in self-defense. Mary was severely injured, I'm sorry but I feel I must be with them."
Yoda's eyes widened his ears twitched and he began to chew on his gimmer stick letting the news sink in. Not only where his friends hurt but also there was the matter of the dark Jedi, which would be dealt with later, when Mary was recovered. "Yes, yes, be with Mary and Obi-Wan you must."
After Yoda finished Qui-Gon quickly turned around and began walking out the door when Mace Windu called out, "Master Jinn. Tell Mary that our thoughts are with her and May the Force be With You." "Thank you, I'll tell her." Qui-Gon now walked out the door slowly and then began running to the healers.

----

"Is she alright?" The sudden sound of Qui-Gon's voice startled Obi-Wan. "She's stable they say. They say she'll live just they don't yet know the full extent of her recovery. She may never walk. There are so many different things that might happen. Only time will tell." Obi-Wan answered.
Qui-Gon walked over to the vertical bacta tank where the healers placed Mary to help with the healing of her injuries. She looked so helpless, suspended in bacta. They had gone through a lot together, so many adventures. He was always there for her, doing what he could and more. He always helped her whenever she needed it. But the time she needed him most he was powerless. He could do nothing.
Master and apprentice sat on opposite sides of the tank for hours; one dozing off while the other was awake. Qui-Gon was almost always awake. After many hours of waiting Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan watched as Mary awoke in the tank, they saw her facial expression change rapidly as she realized where she was. Her eyes slowly began to focus in on the two men looking into the tank.
She spoke slowly and softly. "Thank you," she said telepathically through the Force. She continued, "Obi-Wan, thank you. You saved my life." Once the healers realized Mary has awoken they removed her from this round of her bacta bath. She was placed on a bed where Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan soon came to see her.
"Obi-Wan, did you kill Dy-Man?" "Who? Who's Dy-Man?" Obi-Wan asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Dy-Man was a friend of mine, he was going to be a great Jedi. He was a few years younger than I was. He was a promising Jedi who was lured by the Dark Side of the Force. He was our attacker, he never recognized me…I'm glad he didn't. Is he dead? Did you kill him Obi?"
Obi-Wan hung his head and nodded, he hated knowing he took another's life, even in self-defense. "Yes, I did… in self-defense. He almost killed you. We fought after you got hit, and he took a blow to the head. He died almost instantly." Obi leaned over and gently hugged Mary and whispered into her ear, "I was so scared, I'm glad you're okay."
"Thank you again. Now he will never have a chance to hurt another. Speaking of which, when do I get to go home and what were the extent of my injuries?" "You took a blow to the abdomen. You'll be fine in time, but the healers aren't sure if there will be any prolonged injuries. That's why they used the bacta tank, just to be sure. They say you may never walk but I know you will. Also they say you shouldn't be alone when you leave so I have arranged for you to stay with Obi-Wan and myself so we can keep and eye on you." Qui-Gon explained.
"Alright, I understand that. Thanks for that arrangement; it'll mean a lot to me. Now I am going back to sleep. At least I won't be sleeping in that thing this time." She said gesturing towards the bacta tank. Then Mary rested and Qui-Gon left while Mary slept. Obi-Wan stayed with Mary while Qui-Gon was out. He too slept; it had been a very eventful day.

Chapter 4

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon spent a lot of time the next few days at the healers with Mary. After a few days while Obi was meditating in his quarters Qui-Gon stopped by and told Mary she was coming home that day. He hadn't told Obi-Wan. He wanted to surprise him; so did Mary. Before Mary left she was instructed to stay off her feet and take it easy. So she was given a hoverchair to use while she was healing.
Qui-Gon and Mary left the healers and went up to their quarters. When they arrived at Obi-Wan's door Qui-Gon softly knocked. "Come in Master." was Obi-Wan's response. When Qui-Gon entered the room Obi-Wan stood up and asked, "Hello Master, how's Mary today?" "She's fine" a female voice answered as Mary glided herself into the room. "How are you today?" she asked. '"I'm fine, I'm glad to see you. No one told me you were coming back today." Obi-Wan answered. Qui-Gon looked up at the ceiling giving the idea that he had purposely not told him.
"We wanted to surprise you." Mary and Qui-Gon said in unison. "Anyway, I'm glad to get out of there. It was getting kinda boring in there. I mean it was better with you to coming to see me all the time. But still, you know. As long as I don't have to use that bacta tank any time soon, I STILL have bacta on my breath from my last treatment. "
A light flashed and a screen flicked on in Obi's room. He walked over to it and pushed a button and an image of Master Yoda appeared on the screen. "Hello Padawan Kenobi. Wondering I am when Mary is returning from healers? When a good time be for you to see the council and explain your attacker."
"Oh, well I'm back today and have no plans so the sooner the better." Mary replied as she wheeled herself in front of the screen and into view. "Back you are today. Good that is. Happy to see you alive and well the council is. Today we see you. Come when can." The transmission ended and Mary glanced at Obi-Wan but ended up just staring into the other's eyes. They stared at each other's for a few seconds, but it wasn't just a stare. It was like looking deep into the other's heart. It was something special. Then a voice called the young Jedi back to the present, "If you are planning to see the council today you may want to get going."
"Uh, you right, lets go. Come on Obi." And with that Mary was wheeling herself out of the room and heading for the front door. "She sure is full of energy. Like a new lease on life." Obi-Wan commented to his Master once Mary left the room.
"A near death experience can do that to someone." Qui-Gon added. "I heard that! Now come on!' Mary hollered from the front door waiting for Obi. Obi shrugged and followed her voice and left the room.

----

Mary and Obi-Wan traveled through the long corridors of the temple. They kept moving in silence for a few minutes until Mary broke the silence, "What are you thinking about?" "Nothing, I'm just letting my mind wander."
"Oh, I know I've said this a lot but really, thank you." Mary told Obi-Wan. "Again, you're welcome. It was the least I could d. I was really happy to." He answered blushing a little. "Uh, we're here."
The pair waited in front of the massive doors for a few moments then the doors slid open and the 12 council members came into view. Mary went first slowly nudging the controls of her hover chair. Obi-Wan followed her into the room high atop the Jedi temple.
"Welcome. How feel you today Mary?" Master Yoda wondered. "I'm feeling a lot better, thank you for asking." She responded.
"We are all very glad to see you alive Mary. Now please tell us what happened. Do you know who your attacker was?" Mace Windu asked. "Our attacker was an old friend of mine, but he was after Obi-Wan. He was destiny was to be a great Jedi, but he was lured to the Dark Side. I tried to turn him but he didn't listen."
"Dy-Man, I remember him." Adi Gallia interrupted. "Yes," Mary continued. "It was him. I recognized him, but he didn't recognize me. He didn't care about the second person. I was just in the way; he wanted to kill Obi-Wan."
"He said he was going to kill me because Qui-Gon was my Master, that didn't make any sense to me from the stories Qui told me about his searching for a new padawan. And I never remember another padawan Qui hung around when he was searching. He told us that Qui-Gon had told him he was going to take him as his second Padawan. Qui-Gon told us later he met Dy-Man only once, and that was in a large class, he never had an actual conversation with him. It was all in Dy-Man's imagination. He really must have been crazy." Obi-Wan explained shaking his head to show his disbelief.
Mary straightened up in her chair and began to tell her side of Dy-Man "He was five years younger then me, I didn't know him that well, just a little. I do know he wasn't crazy, at least by medical terms. But I do recall him having delusions about people, he was once convinced that I told him that I like him and we kissed once. It never happened; I never liked him, I was actually scared of him, I most definitely never, ever kissed him. I only knew him because I took a class with him and he was a friend of a friend. I remember how upset he was when he turned 13 and he hadn't been chosen as a Padawan and was sent to the Argie Corps. Some noticed that he was depressed before hand and the non-padawanship just threw him over the edge. I tried to help him. He never went to the Corps. He ran away. No one could find him. Well, we did; he came back to seek revenge."
"Yes, remember him now. Great was he. Began training late he did, why dark he became." Master Yoda told Mary.
"After he threatened us he ignited his lightsaber, it was pure red and he came toward us. We also ignited our sabers and we fought. We did a tag team defense, one went light the other low. He was well trained; we fought for almost 20 minutes. Then Dy-Man went high, Mary blocked, I tripped, and he went to strike. I couldn't get up in time. Mary got hit; she fell to the ground." Obi-Wan stopped and took a deep breath, "I got up and continued to fight. After a few minutes I found an opening in his defense and took it. It was his life or mine. I hit him and he fell to the ground, dead. I ran to Mary, told her she would be all right, and carried her to the healers." Obi-Wan finished with a solemn look on his face.
Mary let a small smile cross her face as she said; "When he told he I would be all right I knew then I had to keep that as a promise. That's why I'm here today, I couldn't let Obi-Wan down."
"We see you lived up to your promise, Jedi Rodel." Yaddle noted. "That's pretty much all that happened. " Obi-Wan informed the council.
"Thank you for your stories. They are much appreciated. We will look further into Dy-Man's fall to the Dark Side to find out what happened to him and how it can be prevented in the future. Now you may go." Ki-Adi Mundi told the younger Jedi. "Thank you for listening, May the Force be with you." Mary ended. Then she and Obi-Wan bowed.

----

The two friends left the council's chambers and began down the hallway to a turbolift that would take them back to their quarters. Then Mary stopped and said to Obi, "You know what I am going to do tonight?"
"No, I don't. But I'm afraid to ask." He replied with a sigh. "I want to cook you and Qui-Gon a dinner I learned to make on my last mission. I have been cooped up in the healers for days. I need to do something constructive." She said with a determined tone of voice. "That sounds good. What's it called?"
"Truthfully, I forgot, but I know how to make it." She said as they got into the lift. Obi-Wan pressed the button leading to his quarters, and Mary pushed the one leading to the base of the temple. Obi-Wan looked puzzled. "I need to go to the market to get a few ingredients for the dinner." She explained.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Obi-Wan said suddenly concerned for the safety of his friend. "No, thank you for the offer. But I'll be fine"
"Alright. Whatever you say." As he finished speaking the door opened on the temple base and Mary glided off the lift leaving Obi-Wan alone. She continued the rest of the way out of the temple into the streets of Coruscant. She continued down the levels of the streets until she reached the uppermost layer of the notorious Coruscant underground where a small collection of booths full of vendors of all species and foods of every kind. Despite it's bad reputation the underground is the only place to find some exotic goods without paying an arm and leg to get it from an uptown vendor.
She wandered through the rows of vendors until she reached the area where the ingredients she needed where sold. She approached an older woman sitting in a booth and said, "I was wondering, do you have any wickatoa?" The woman looked up and smiled and said, "As a matter of fact, I do. That will be 3½ credits."
Mary reached into her pouch and pulled a credit chit out and handed it to the woman. The older woman slid the chit through a small electronic device that subtracted the needed amount from the chit owners' account. "Thank you dearie, and have a nice evening," the vendor told Mary as she handed her a bag full of wickatoa. Mary collected the rest of her ingredients from a few other vendors and returned to the temple and went to her quarters.


Chapter 5

"What smells?" Was the first thing Qui-Gon said when he came through the door into the room. "It's food. I'm cooking dinner for the three of us tonight," Mary replied.
"I'm sure it will be good. Now if you don't mind I am going to my room to rest until dinner." Qui-Gon said while walking to his room. Mary continued to scurry around the kitchen, stirring pots and doing other things until finally she was done.
"If anyone in here is hungry besides me, come out here for dinner." Almost immediately two doors swung open, revealing her master and his apprentice. They all sat around a small round table and Mary passed around heaping plates of food to her friends. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon stared at the portions on their plates. Mary looked at them with an innocent childlike expression and said, "I kinda forgot that the recipe was for a lot of people and didn't cut it down. So if you finish this there's plenty more." Obi and Qui's eyes bulged at the thought of their being even more food available when and if they finished what they had.
"Oh, that makes sense. At least I'm hungry enough to eat a full-grown bantha tonight; it seems like we have enough food to feed a herd of banthas. But besides that it looks good." Obi-Wan noted. After a few moments of chewing Mary cautiously asked, "So, is it any good?" Qui-Gon quickly replied, "Yes, it's wonderful. My compliments to the chef." Obi-Wan's mouth was stuffed with food so he nodded in agreement. Mary laughed, "Good, I'm glad it at least edible."

----

The trio talked and ate for a long time until every plate was clean with even some of the 'bantha sized portions' remaining in the kitchen for preservation for some other time.
"Wow, I'm stuffed! I guess I should clean this mess up, shouldn't I?" Mary said gesturing toward the kitchen while backing away from the table. "Hold it right there. I'm cleaning up tonight. You've had a busy day." Qui-Gon explained while sliding Mary away from the table toward the couch.
"Thank you Qui-Gon. I guess I'll catch up on my reading." She said picking up a datacard containing a story she had been meaning to read and a datapad from the table. Obi-Wan rose and walked over to the couch and gently picked Mary up and placed her on the couch. "I think you'll be more comfortable here." He explained before grabbing a datacard and datapad from a shelf. He sat next to Mary and read.
Qui-Gon was watching his two padawans quietly reading together, occasionally glancing at the other. He then finished cleaning and announced, "Good night you two. I'm going to bed now. I'll see you in the morning." They both looked up and Mary said, "Good night master, I think I'll turn in too," she said pulling herself back into her hoverchair and glided over to a small cot placed by the wall for her use. She got into it and quickly fell asleep. Very quietly Obi-Wan rose and tiptoed across the room to his own room, careful not to wake Mary.

----

"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon said to his apprentice the next morning.
"Yes, Master?" He replied. "Would you like to visit my friend Ji-Hinda. I'm afraid she has become ill and I would like to see her." Qui-Gon explained. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea. I too would like to see her. She is a really nice lady. And was a good teacher. I listened in on one of her seminars once."
"I remember, we'll leave in a few minutes." Qui-Gon said. He then informed Mary of their plan and she said she would stay behind to rest and read.
Master and apprentice walked in silence through the halls of the great temple. Qui-Gon suddenly startled Obi-Wan by saying, " You really like Mary, don't you? I mean not as just a friend." Obi-Wan thought for a moment before saying, "Yes, Master. I do, I really think I love her, I've never felt this way about a girl before…How could you tell?
"I was watching the two of you last night. I could just tell. I think she feels the same way about you. You should tell her the way you feel." The wise Jedi Master explained to his padawan. "I am planning to, I hope she feels the same way. I really hope so." Obi-Wan added.
They continued in silence until they reached Ji-Hinda's quarters and went in a visited their friend and teacher.

Chapter 6

Days passed and Mary continued rest. She was feeling better every day. To take advantage of his time at the temple Obi-Wan sat in on a few lectures given by other Jedi. One afternoon Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were sitting in their quarters when the door opened revealing Mary standing in the doorway.
Obi-Wan jumped out of his chair and exclaimed, "You're standing! Where's your hoverchair?" "It's gone, I can walk, and I'm healed. I'm ok." Mary calmly explained as she walked to the other side of the room where the others where. "I'm glad to see you up and about." Her master said as he gave her a hug.
Later in the night the trio sat reading and relaxing. After awhile Mary leaned over and rested her head in Obi-Wan's lap, looked up into his eyes and said, "Hello." "Hello to you too. How are you feeling?"
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" a frustrated Mary asked. "I doubt I've ever felt better in my life." She replied. Qui-Gon smiled to himself, thinking Mary's response was just a tad bit humorous. "That's good." Obi-Wan shot his master a quick glance. Qui-Gon stood up and yawned saying; "I'll see you two in the morning. Good night." He said turning away towards his room and then abruptly turned around again, "Oh I almost forgot the council wants to see us in the morning."
Obi-Wan blurted out "Again? I wonder what Mary did this time? I mean, it seems the council wants to see us a lot lately." Mary adjusted her head and gave him a stare that could stop a Sith cold in its tracks and Obi-Wan shuddered and said, "I take it back! I take it back! Now just don't look a me that way, it gives me the creeps." Mary smiled smugly and turned her head.
"Good night master." Mary said as Qui-Gon left the room. "That wasn't funny. It's probably something YOU did!" Mary said pointing her finger in Obi-Wan's face. "Who me?" He replied with a smile. "Yah. You, have you been skinny dipping in the garden fountain again? Or running with your lightsaber on. That's going to hurt someone someday!" Mary jokingly replied.
Obi-Wan's face turned red, "Uh, why I otta, you know I never did that." He retorted. Mary just pretended to ignore him and stared at the ceiling then burst into laughter along with Obi-Wan.
When they finally quieted down Obi-Wan's voice became very serious and said, "Mary we need to talk." Mary began to move her lips to talk but he put a finger over her mouth, "Please let me talk, just, just hear me out." Mary nodded. "Mary, I've never felt this way about anyone before. I think I love you. Mary, I love you."
Mary just stared at him and tears began to come to her eyes, "I love you too. I just didn't know how to tell you. Or how you would react. I'm glad you feel the same way."
Obi-Wan began to lean down and Mary raised her head until their lips met and they kissed. After that first kiss they just looked at each other, It was the first time either of them had ever kissed another person. Then they kissed again. Mary put her head back in Obi-Wan's lap and they began to talk about the past and the future.
"So Mary, let me get this straight, you're 30 and you've never kissed another person?" Obi-Wan said with one eyebrow slightly cocked. "That's right, 'There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no passion, there is serenity' but I suppose it's ok for that kind of stuff as long as it's another Jedi and you really do love them… Well don't rag on me like that. Your 25 and have never kissed someone." "I see your point I agree. Well I'm glad I waited 25 years for you. Right Mary, Mary…Mary?"
He looked down and saw Mary had fallen asleep. He looked at her face; he studied every curve of it thinking she really was beautiful. She looked so peaceful, so happy. They were both happy. After a few more minutes Obi-Wan closed his eyes and also fell asleep.

----

When Qui-Gon woke in the morning he walked into the larger part of the quarters where he found Mary and Obi-Wan still together asleep on the couch. He hated to do what he had to do next. But the council really wanted to see them early so he walked over to Obi-Wan and placed his hand on his shoulder. Obi-Wan awoke immediately so startled he jumped out of the couch and sent Mary flying across the room to the ground. She landed with a loud thud. "Ow, I thought you said you loved me. Now you're trying to kill me?" Mary complained. "I'm so, so sorry. I completely forgot you where there." He walked over to her and extended his hand. She reluctantly grabbed it pulling herself up while rubbing the back of her head with the other.
Qui-Gon had to cover his mouth with his hand to keep from smiling. "You better set a new speed record in washing and changing, the council wants us there now!" "Uh, I'll go splash some water on my face and change. Out of this." She announced gesturing at her wrinkled tunic. "In just a minute you will come here." Obi-Wan said grabbing her arm and jerking her toward him. He gave her a kiss and let her go.
After changing in record time Mary and Obi-Wan meet Qui-Gon in the hallway outside their quarters. Mary and Obi walked ahead of their master holding each other's hand. Qui-Gon's mind was abuzz with thoughts about what the council wanted to see them about. And what did Mary and Obi-Wan talk about last night? He knew they spent the entire night together, they said they loved each other and they laughed, he heard them laughing. Mary must have been making fun of Obi-Wan again, she was known for kidding her friends. That was all he knew. He didn't need to know anymore details; he was not a busybody wanting to intrude on other peoples business. He knew they where enjoying life at the present.

Chapter 7

"Good morning my friends." Master Yoda said as the trio walked through the doors entering the council chambers. Qui-Gon noticed that his padawans past and present were no longer holding hands, which would make sense. The council normally looked down upon Jedi dating. "Good morning masters." Mary said after she bowed.
"We wanted to talk to you about an upcoming mission. We would like the three of you to go on it." Mace Windu began explaining. "The mission is to the planet Cypru, to retrieve some Jedi ambassadors who have encountered some trouble. Do you accept the mission?"
Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan who nodded and shot a glance at Mary who then nodded to Qui-Gon. "Yes we accept the mission. When do we leave? Qui-Gon answered and questioned the council. "We're glad you accept. You will leave tomorrow morning. Be at landing platform 812, early. May the Force be with you." Ki- Adi Mundi told his fellow Jedi.
Master and apprentices bowed to the council and left the chambers. "Finally I get to go on another mission! And with my two best friends!" Mary said while she put an arm around Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.
"Well it appears we don't have much time before we have to go. I say we throw a few things in a bag and do whatever the rest of the day." Qui-Gon suggested. His apprentices nodded in agreement.
The trio went back to their quarters and packed a small bag of necessities each and went their own ways. Qui-Gon spent the day resting and reading about Cypru while Mary and Obi-Wan wandered around talking.

----

The next morning master and apprentices boarded a Republic transport bound for the planet Cypru. Once aboard the Jedi all meditated for hours until they met again onboard the ship. After awhile they left hyperspace and came closer to Cypru. A small blue light began blinking rapidly on a wall signaling that they would be landing soon.
The Jedi went to the cockpit to watch the planet come into view. A small screen flicked on revealing a female Jedi with a person behind her holding a blaster at her head, the Jedi who was remarkably calm considering her given circumstances. "Are you Jedi ambassadors?" the presumed hostage takers inquired. "Yes sir. We are" Mary replied.
"Good," the man on the screen answered, and then he pulled the trigger on the blaster and the Jedi hostage crumpled to the ground. The Jedi aboard the transport shuddered as they felt their fellow Jedi's presence drop out of the Force.
"Stay away from the surface or you and the other Jedi here will suffer the same fate of you friend here." The hostage taker said kicking the fallen Jedi with his foot. The screen flicked off.

----

"Now what are we supposed to do? Are we supposed to risk our lives and go down there?" Obi-Wan asked his Master. "We go to the surface my padawan." Obi-Wan sighed, he didn't like the sound of that idea, and Qui-Gon turned to the captain of the ship.
"Captain, please land the ship near where we received the transmission." Qui-Gon instructed. "Yes sir, we are beginning the landing cycle, please take a seat." The captain responded.
The trio of Jedi sat and waited to land; each was wondering the same thing. They all wondered what their fate would be, and what the fate of the hostages would be. This they decided was more then they expected to be happening.
The ship landed safely and the Jedi walked out of the ship lightsabers drawn. Qui-Gon took the lead, taking his apprentices into the certain danger. "Is this safe master?" Obi-Wan wondered aloud. "No, not at all. But we are going to free the hostages, no matter what it takes." Qui-Gon answered.
"I was afraid you would say that." Obi-Wan muttered. "Fear leads to the dark side." Mary commented. "I'm not afraid, just nervous. This doesn't seem safe. But I guess nothing is nowadays." "I agree." Mary added.
"Will you two keep it down? You'll give us away. This is dangerous enough without the two of you blabbing back there." Qui-Gon firmly told his apprentices.
"Stop right there. One more step and you die." A dark figure bellowed aiming a large weapon directly at the Jedi. They all stepped forward, testing the dark man. He fired his blaster. Suddenly, one green and two blue beams of light energy appeared in the dark. The lights deflected the blast. The man fired several more shots, all deflected. One deflected blast ricocheted off the green beam of light and went back to the man like an obedient dog. The man fell to the floor…he was quite dead.
"Let's go in." Mary said beckoning the other two to fallow her. The passed the fallen man and she stopped to look at his face, it had one long scar from his ear to his chin, and this was obviously not his first encounter with an enemy.
Five droids appeared further down the hallway, each holding a blaster. The droids did not fire, but one stepped forward and in a very fake metallic voice spoke, "You are very stupid to come here."
"Where are the other Jedi being held?" Obi-Wan bravely asked. "They are in a secret room being held captive. Well, the ones who are alive that is. Now that you had the guts to show up I will have to kill them. And you too, it would be a shame to let you go back to Coruscant without the other ambassadors. So we won't let you go back at all." the mechanical voice answered. "Not if we have anything to do with it." Mary spat out.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." The droids answered in unison. Then they all fired. The Jedi deflected the shots. One grazed Qui-Gon but he was unhurt, just a little burnt clothing. While the droids continued to fire Mary quietly snuck behind the droids while the men handled the bombardment of fire. She brought her lightsaber above the leader's head and brought the beam directly down. It split it in two pieces with sparks flying. She moved over to the next four and did the same. They never knew what hit them.
This time Obi-Wan took the lead; again the others followed him. After the rounded they next corner the came upon a large room. Seven Jedi sat on the floor in a circle. They all had blasters pointed at their heads. The new ambassadors had found the hostages.
The lead hostage taker came forward and began to clap sarcastically, "Good job in the hallway," he said pointing at a screen in the corner showing the hallway they just left. "But I thought I told you not to come here. Now I will keep my promise. Guards," he beckoned to the group of guards guarding the hostages. "Kill them. All of them."
The guards obeyed him; they stood and came forward. They fired at the new ambassadors, but before any of the laser beams hit anyone Qui-Gon Jinn threw the guards against a wall with a quick hand gesture.
"Now you have further upset me." The leader added. His guards leaped up and ran toward the ambassadors. The ambassadors were faster than the guards were. They where ready. When the guards were a few feet from them they ignited their lightsabers and all the people in the room could smell was the repulsive smell of scorching flesh.
Mary and Obi-Wan flicked their wrists in the direction of the hostages. Then, almost by magic, their bonds holding them down fell off. They were free.
The last thing the Jedi had to do was take care of the remaining hostage taker. They decided to take him back to Coruscant to face trial for what he had done. The Jedi felt they had no reason to tie up the man, for the obvious reason ten Jedi surrounded him. The man walked between Mary and Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon led the pack through the building outside to the ship. Before they reached the exit the man being led away for trial picked up a fallen droid blaster and aimed at himself.
Before he could be stopped he fired the blaster and fell to the ground. "Looks like he saved the courts some time." One of the former hostages said. "Serves him right." Another man, a non-Jedi who was later discovered to be the pilot of the original mission spat on the dead man's body, "That's for my friends." He muttered.

Chapter 8

Back on the ship Obi-Wan sent a transmission to Coruscant. He told them the Jedi ambassadors had been rescued, and their hostage takers were dead. After the transmission was sent he rejoined the other Jedi as the ship left Cypru and made the jump to hyperspace.
All of the Jedi sat at a small table eating; Mary asked the former hostages, "How were you taken hostage?"
"We were going to leave. Our mission had been completed so we had a transport come to get us," the leader began, "Once in the docking bay the Komtra, a local gang, took control of our ship and then they threatened to kill us. Then they destroyed our ship, killing its pilots."
"Except one. Me, I was in another part of the ship and they thought I was an ambassador so they took me with the others." The man who spat on the deceased hostage taker's body added.
"Sorry, I forgot that part." The leader continued, "Then they took us to their headquarters, the building you found us in. They told us we should have never have come to their planet to handle the problem they created."
'What was that problem?" Qui-Gon asked. The leader continued again, "The problem they created was they were massacring the inhabitants of the planet, mostly the peasants because they were easier to kill then the socially upstanding. Chancellor Velorum sent us to put an end to it. So we did, but I guess we missed an outpost of the gang. They said they were mad because we spoiled their fun. They were just killing for the fun of it. I can't understand why they would do something so terrible; it's just so inhumane. It still doesn't make sense."
"It never will, you'll never forget it, no matter how hard you try. You'll find yourself waking up in the middle of the night wide-awake seeing the murderer faces in your mind. They can't leave. Ever, or I know at least 25 years, definitely more. I wish not but it's inevitable." Mary wasn't trying to scare the people, she was just telling of her own experiences. Obi-Wan saw Mary's eyes turn red and he went over to her and put his arm around her to comfort her.
Mary dried her eyes, and told the people, "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to frighten you it's just the truth. In my case, that is. Sorry I interrupted you. Go on."
"Well, they took our lightsabers and put ysalamiri in the room, I guess they took them away before you came. Trust me, we tried to use the Force, but we couldn't."
"What are yasalmari?" Qui-Gon asked. The leader continued, "Ysalamiri are furry little creatures from the planet Myrkr, they create bubbles that can block out the Force." "Oh, I understand." Qui-Gon said.
Then they killed three others who tried to back talk them. Then you found us. Thank you so much, you saved our lives." The leader finished.
"We were happy to help out. I'm sorry we weren't there sooner, and I'm really sorry for the loss of your friends. I've been through it but it gets better, eventually." Qui-Gon comforted the hostages.

----

After what seemed like days the ship came out of lightspeed and Coruscant came into view. "Looks like we're almost home." One of the hostages said. "Yep, home sweet home. No hostage takers in the temple, just Jedi, One of the safest places in the universe." Mary commented before they landed beside the temple.
The Jedi disembarked the ship and went into the temple. Mary, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon went to their quarters and flopped down in the main living area. They were exhausted. "What an ordeal, I don't know how they survived." Obi-Wan commented.
"Hope. They knew they had to live to tell their story, to tell others about the inhumane acts that still go on in this not so perfect galaxy. It can happen to anyone. Even the protectors of peace and justice fall victim; we're not exempt from anything…unlike what some people think," a now serious Mary told Obi-Wan.
"I'm sorry, I keep forgetting what happened to you. I was being insensitive again. I didn't mean to." Obi-Wan told Mary. "I forgive you. I love you." She said.
"A job well done. We helped a lot of people. I don't think they could have made it much longer without us. So good night." Qui-Gon told his apprentices. Qui-Gon went to his room and Obi-Wan went to his and Mary went to her cot against the wall and fell asleep.

----

The next morning Mary awoke to find Obi-Wan sitting next to her staring at her. He startled her sitting there. She jumped a little then said, "Good morning, did you have sweet dreams?" He kissed her cheek and said, "Yah, I had sweet dreams. I dreamt about you so why wouldn't they be sweet? Do you want to go for a walk with me?"
"That sounds nice. Just remember what happened to me the last time we went for a walk together…We were attacked by a dark Jedi who almost killed me. But I'll still go with you. Just give me a few minutes to fully wake up," she said crawling out of bed.
After changing into a new tunic Mary meet Obi-Wan where she left him and they walked out the door holding hands.
Obi-Wan led Mary to the gardens. He took her to the exact place where they were attacked and sat down. "Is this some kind of joke bringing me here?" Mary questioned Obi. "No it's not. I just figured here was a safe place. I mean what are the chances of being attacked here, again, in the same place? I know slim to nothing, so just sit still and let me talk."
Mary nodded and Obi-Wan faced her, "Mary, you really love me right?" He asked openly. "Yes, I really do." She responded.
"Good, then just hear me out. Mary, I really love you and I want to be around you for a long, long time. So Mary, please, will you marry me?" Mary just stared at him with a blank look on her face. "Mary? Mary? Are you all right? Mary? Mary Rodel?"
Mary closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes, I'll marry you, Obi-Wan Kenobi." He leaned forward and kissed her. "Then why are you crying?" Obi-Wan asked his fiancé. "Because I am so happy and I was right." She answered. "Right about what?" Obi-Wan wondered. "When I first meet you I knew you would be the person I would marry, and I was right."
"Oh, I almost forgot. Here I made this for you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wooden circle with the center missing. He slid it on her finger and kissed her again.
Mary jumped up, "Let's go tell Qui-Gon!" She said practically pulling Obi-Wan out of the gardens.

----

Qui-Gon was surprised when the door swung open and his padawans raced in but stopped abruptly when the saw him. "Where have you been?" He asked.
"Out." Mary blurted out. "We went on a walk." Obi-Wan added.
"Obi-Wan took me to the gardens. We talked." "I asked Mary to marry me. She said yes!" Obi-Wan exclaimed with a huge smile.
"We're gonna get married Master! I'm very happy, actually I doubt I've ever been happier." Mary said squeezing her fiancé's hand. "Hey, that hurts! Don't squeeze THAT hard. But I'm very happy too."
Qui-Gon had a slightly confused look on his face then he smiled, "Congratulations, to both of you. I thought I saw something special between you when you first meet." Saying that made Mary smile even more and made Obi-Wan blush.
Mary stepped forward right in front of her master and said, "Uh, one more thing. Well, you're the closest thing I have to family so I would like you to be the one to give me away at the wedding."
"I would be love to. But it will be kind of weird. I mean Mary; you're like my daughter. And Obi-Wan you're like my son. But I'll do it." Mary and Obi-Wan blushed again and smiled. Man, Qui-Gon sure knew how to embarrass someone! Mary thought.
"When is the wedding?"
"It's tentative date is one week from today." Obi-Wan informed his master.
"Why tentatively?" The Jedi Master questioned. "Because we would like to get the council's blessing. I mean it's the proper thing to do." Mary explained.
"When where you planning to ask them?" "This afternoon when we tell them about our mission to Cypru," Obi-Wan answered.

----

After breakfast the Jedi sat and talked reviewing the Cypru mission with each other. "Ready?" Qui-Gon asked in the early afternoon. "As I'll ever be," Mary sighed as she got out of her seat.
"Is it just me or do we come here way too often?" Obi-Wan wondered when the reached the council chambers. "We're here a lot." Mary replied when the doors slid open.
"Good afternoon young Jedi." Yoda said when the trio entered the room. Actually, Qui-Gon is kinda old. But everyone is young compared to Master Yoda. "Yes, good afternoon my Masters." Master Jinn replied bowing, his apprentices doing the same.
"We see that the mission was a success. Please tell us more about the happenings." Yaddle spoke out. The three Jedi described the mission and told the stories of the survivors as told to them. They also told of the Jedi they witnessed on the screen of the transport. They told of the five droids they encountered, "I have never seen droids that looked as the ones we saw, I have also never witnessed nor heard of droids used as defense that spoke with mind of their own as these did. I think these droids were a vision of what's to come." Qui-Gon added.
"Not that I doubt you master Jinn but it's highly unlikely anyone would ever use droids as you described them used." Master Oppo Rancisis noted. The other council members nodded in agreement for Master Rancisis is known for his brilliant military mind.
Qui-Gon was not upset by his remark; he just calmed his mind and forgot about it. The trio finished their story and the council dismissed them.

----

Qui-Gon walked out the door, but Mary and Obi-Wan remained in front of the council. Yoda finally spoke "More to say have you Jedi Rodel and Padawan Kenobi?"
"Yes Master Yoda." She paused, she was serious, she was referring to people with their full title, and Yoda must have sensed something also because he rarely called people by their title and last name.
"We need to ask the council something," Mary finished.
"Yes?"
"Today," Obi-Wan began, "I asked Mary to marry me." "Oh, you did, did you?" Yoda asked his ears twitching and his eyes widening. Yoda was obviously not pleased with the idea; he rarely liked the idea of Jedi marrying, even to other Jedi.
"Yes he did. And I said yes." Mary said after stepping forward and grabbing Obi-Wan's hand again. "What we would like is the council's blessing." Mary told the council.
The council members exchanged glances before Mace Windu said, "You have our blessing. Then I guess congratulations are in order. So Congratulations."
"Thank you, Thank you. We are very happy. And all of you are invited to the wedding, one week from today in the gathering room of the temple." Then Mary and her fiancé left the council's chambers and meet up with Qui-Gon in the hallway.
"Well? What did they say?" A very anxious Qui-Gon asked. "They gave us their blessing!" They said in unison.

----

When the trio returned back to their quarters they sat down and began to plan the wedding. "Who will conduct the ceremony?" Mary wondered.
Qui-Gon thought, then he snapped his fingers and said, "How about Bobro Habal? She married Luc-Pay and An-Rai. She is also a friend of mine she'll probably do it for you. "She's good. I'll talk to her later." Obi-Wan said. Mary nodded, she agreed.
"Your Dress?" Obi-Wan asked Mary. "I'll find one. Nice but not too wild, I know someone who can do it."
"I'll help out with refreshments. Mary, you better find a dress now and you can do the guest list when you get back." Qui-Gon instructed.
"Alright, I can do that. Thanks guys, this is going to be a wonderful day. Now I'm going out, I'll be back soon."

Chapter 9

"Hello Megha. How are you today? I have a project for you." Mary said as she entered her friend Megha's dressmakers' shop.
"Why hello Mary! I'm fine and you? What's my job?" The small blond dressmaker asked. Mary extended her left hand showing Megha the wooden ring. "I'm getting married! To a totally wonderful guy, his name is Obi-Wan Kenobi; he is Qui-Gon's padawan. I need you to make me a wedding dress to wear."
"Oh, Oh Congrats! You're marrying a Jedi! I've met Obi-Wan. He's a sweet boy; you're very lucky. I also heard about your accident, I'm glad you're all right. You really frightened me when I heard what happened are you alright now?"
"Yah, I'm fine. Occasional pain when I walk, and just the memories of the incident itself still haunt me a little. But it's all good, and everything's much better with Obi-wan around." Mary explained. "I'm glad to hear it. In that case knowing you okay, I would love to make your dress. What kind, come sit, talk!"
Megha was obviously very happy for her friend. Megha really was Mary's best female friend. They say opposites attract. In these friends case, they do. Mary met Megha some 15 years ago. They were both in the market poking around and they met when Mary accidentally ran straight into her and knocked her over. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship if there ever was one. They still are very good friends despite their difference in jobs Jedi: seamstress.
Mary sat down and began to describe her dream dress. "It should be long, and um, flowing with big penguin sleeves. And a sash at the waist, white and pretty. Very simple, you know how Jedi are about the frills of life; many look down on frills and extravagant things. Personally I like the extravagant things to a point, but don't let the council hear me say that. Do you have the idea?"
Megha was furiously entering information on a datapad, trying to get the idea of what her friend desired. The data pad Megha was holding beeped, it brought up a picture of a dress. Mary looked at it. "It's perfect, just what I wanted."
"I can have it made in two days. I just need some measurements. I think you'll look great in this." Megha explained.
"Sounds good to me, I'll be by to pick it up then. I have the measurements with me, hold up a sec." Mary reached into her utility belt and pulled out a slip of paper with the measurements needed written on it.
"Here ya go. Oh, and you're invited to the wedding. See you in two days. Bye," Mary said as she left the shop.

----

"Bobro will do it." Obi-Wan told Mary when she came into the room from Megha's. "And Megha will do my dress." Qui-Gon walked in; "We have refreshments."
"Good. Now all we need it people to come. Mary sat down and pulled out a datapad and was prepared to enter names. "Well, the council is already invited and I invited Megha. That's all for me, oh and Bobhe the instructor. That's really all I can think of."
"Well you forgot we have some mutual Jedi friends beside them like Luc-Pay, An-Rai, Mi-Cae, Len-Gia, Ry-Higa, Dre-My and Si-Pen." Obi-Wan suggested.
"Sounds like a small wedding. I like that." Mary said while finishing the names. "Do you have any suggestions Master?"
"Fenis, Um, I mean Chancellor Velorum has always thought you two were nice." "You want to invite the Supreme Chancellor of the senate?" Mary gasped.
"Yes, why not? He's always been supportive of the Jedi order and he's a dear old friend of mine and the times he's meet both of you he's thought you were very nice people." Qui stated. "Point taken and name added." Mary responded, "Anyone else Master?" "You can't forget Ji-Hinda. That's all I can think of. Sounds like it'll be a nice wedding. How about I send off the messages inviting them today or tomorrow?" Qui-Gon said.
"Alright, thanks Master." Mary said.

----

The next few days were quite hectic. There was so much to do and when there wasn't there was nothing to do. When the dress was done Mary went to pick it up from Megha's shop. She stepped into the shop and yelled, "I'm Back! Megha?"
"I'm over here!" Megha yelled back from behind a large pile of cloth. "Your dress turned out nicely. It's over here." Mary followed the sound of her friend's voice until she found her. "Wow, it really is nice. Just liked I dreamed it would be. What do I owe you?" The shop owner looked at her data pad and said, "It will be 297 credits."
Mary reached into a pouch on her belt again, but this time pulling out a credit chit, Megha took the chit and removed the desired amount from the account and gave it back to Mary. "Thank you so much. I'll see you in a few days." Mary took her dress and folded it over her arm with a bag over it; Obi-Wan wasn't supposed to see it until the wedding.

----

Mary returned to the temple and headed for her quarters. When she arrived she quietly entered but was quite startled when Qui-Gon said, "Hello, Mary. It's just me here right now. Obi-Wan's out. "
"Oh, hello Qui-Gon. How are you?" "I'm fine the usual just, resting. Obi-Wan's out with some friends. I think he's also sitting in on some lecture or something like that. Mary, can I be frank with you?"
"Sure, no problem. As long as I can be Alice, seriously," She said sitting next to her master. "I'm listening."
"You have made Obi-Wan a very happy man. He is very lucky to have you. I doubt I've ever seen him so happy about anything. And you…I've never seen you happier."
Mary blushed, "Why wouldn't I be happy? I am on my favorite planet, with my two best friends. And I'm getting married in FOUR days! Its seems like plenty to be happy about to me. Don't you agree?"
"You have a very good point. I have a lot to be happy about too. I mean both of my padawans are here with me, and they're getting married, to each other. Is that cool or what?"
"Yah, that's cool. Master, are you ever sad that you never married?" Mary asked.
"No Mary, I'm not. Sure it would be nice, but my life is the Force. But there's nothing wrong with a Jedi getting married, especially to another Jedi. As long as they follow the code and still do what they are supposed to do, as all Jedi are expected to do. They just happen to have a special bond together." Qui-Gon said this almost specifically to Mary, for her to do those things.
"Thank you, Master, for all you have done in my life. Finding me, taking me on as your first padawan. And definitely for taking Obi-Wan as your padawan." Mary said with a smile on her face as she mentioned Obi-Wan.
"You're most welcome for everything. Now what are you going to do?" "I think I am going to go meditate." And she did.

----

The next four days were a total blur and went by quickly. All the guests had said they could come to the wedding. The night before the wedding Mary stayed in her old quarters; she had to pack up the few things she still had there. And it was bad luck for Obi-Wan to see her until the next day, also Megha had said she would stay the night with Mary to help her get ready the next morning.
"I'm kinda nervous, I mean I'm not but I AM! Do you have any idea what I'm trying to say Megha?"
"Yes Mary, I understand completely. I've heard it's normal for people to act this way before their wedding. Even for a Jedi, you're not exempt from everything, including pre-wedding jitters. Now just go to sleep, you have a busy day tomorrow." As always, Mary listened to her friend's advice.

----

"Are you nervous?" Qui-Gon asked his padawan while they were meditating the night before the wedding.
"Yes master, I am. But I'm not scared, just nervous. You know what I'm saying?" A stressed out Obi-Wan replied.
Qui-Gon nodded, "I understand. I would be nervous; you have every right to be. Marriage is a big thing. But I do know you and Mary are perfect for each other; nothing will go wrong." Qui-Gon comforted his padawan. "Just go to sleep, you'll be less nervous in the morning."


Chapter 10

When Mary awoke the next morning Megha had already been awake doing odd jobs in Mary's room. "Good morning. Are you excited?" Megha cheerfully asked. Mary suddenly realized what day it was and jumped out of bed very quickly.
"Yes, I know what day it is. I'm getting married today. How much time do I have to get ready?" Mary replied taking very deep breaths to calm down.
"You have about five hours. Just relax. You'll be fine, calm down. Everything is taken care of. All you have to do is be at the wedding. That's it." Megha calmly explained.
"What would I do without you? Oh never mind. If you don't mind I need to meditate, just to clear my head." Then Mary sat on the ground and let her mind rest and her thoughts clear.

----

"Obi-Wan! Wake up! You overslept!" Qui-Gon told his sleepy apprentice. "I huh? Oh, no. I did? Not today, I had to oversleep today?" Obi-Wan muttered.
"It's okay. You only overslept about five minutes, not too bad. I just wanted to see that look on your face. That's it, that's the one!" Qui-Gon said pointing at Obi-Wan's face.
"That's still not funny. Never was, never will be." Obi-Wan grumbled while he got out of bed.
"Do you even remember what today is?" Qui-Gon inquired.
"Of course it's the 15th of…" he trailed off. "No my foolish young apprentice, it's your wedding day."
"I knew that. How long do I have?" "Five hours, just keep cool, everything is under control." Qui-Gon reassured him.

----

"What if we're rushing into this? What if it's not meant to be?" Mary questioned while she brushed out her long hair. "It's meant to be. Sure of it, as sure as my name is Megha!"
"Thanks Meg, your little speeches, odd they may be always do help me when I'm doubtful. Now how should I do my hair?" Mary asked while pulling her hair back trying different things with it.
"How about pulling it back loosely with a white ribbon?" Megha said as the grabbed the hairbrush off Mary's dresser and showed he what she meant, "Like this."
"I like it, I'll keep it like that." After Mary finished her hair she put on her dress and sat on the edge of her bed for a long time until she felt footsteps and heard a knock on the door. It wasn't Megha; she had left to get herself ready and would meet Mary at the wedding. She cracked the door… it was just Qui-Gon.
"You look beautiful." He commented. "You ready to go to the gathering room?" She nodded and they left the room and went on their way to the gathering room. Qui-Gon had come up to the room because he was to escort Mary to the wedding.

----

They walked to the base of the temple where the gathering room was. When they arrived the council and the other guests were all sitting down facing a small dais where Obi-Wan was wearing a simple brown Jedi tunic and cloak, basically what he normally wears, just nicer.
Music began, Mary and Qui-Gon walked down an aisle to where Obi-was was waiting. For a few rare, (not so rare now with Mary around, but still rare moments) Obi and Qui-Gon were smiling. Qui-Gon handed Mary off to Obi-Wan and he sat down. Obi-Wan and Mary looked into each other's eyes and then Bobro began to speak.
"Friends, fellow Jedi. We gather here to witness the wedding of Mary Rodel and Obi-Wan Kenobi. It is a happy day for everyone, Mary and Obi-Wan have made a lifelong commitment to each other and that is a wonderful thing."
Bobro then turned to Obi-Wan and asked him, "Obi-Wan Kenobi, do you take Mary Rodel to be your wife and friend as long as you live? Do you also promise to uphold the Jedi code and respect the Force at all times even as you are wed?" Obi-Wan looked at Bobro, then at Mary and responded, "Yes, I do."
Then Bobro asked Mary the same questions and she responded, "Yes, I do." Bobro then turned to the onlookers and said to them, "I now wish to present to you for the first time ever, Mary and Obi-Wan Kenobi!" The crown stood up and applauded as husband and wife walked out of the room.

----

At the reception the guests sat at tables and ate. The newlyweds sat at a small table at the front of the room. After a while Qui-Gon stood up and raised his glass; "I would like to propose a toast to the Kenobi's. May you have many long years together and may the Force be with you, Always. Also never forget about old Qui-Gon."
"Don't worry, we never will. You'll always be there to remind us of you." Mary added, with a smile like she had a coat hanger in her mouth.
After the reception Mary and Obi-Wan went back to their quarters. "I'm so happy. I'm glad we did this. I love you." Mary said giving her husband a kiss on the cheek. "Me too. I'm glad we got to do something some Jedi don't get to do. I wonder why some don't wed? I guess we'll never know." Said Obi-Wan when they reached the door.
He stopped when the door opened. "What's wrong?" a now concerned Mary asked. "Well, on some planets when a newlywed couple enters the home the husband carries the wife over the of the door." He explained.
"Oh, I see. I have no problem with that." When the words left Mary's mouth Obi-Wan picked her up and carried her to the couch and gently put her down.
"Thank you." Mary said.
"It was an honor Jedi Kenobi."
"I get it, PADAWAN Kenobi."
"Hey, don't go there, soon it will be Jedi Kenobi. I hope, it will, just because you got knighted early doesn't mean anything, you also became a padawan early, that's why. I'm normal, unlike some people who shall remain safely anonymous." He replied rolling his eyes over toward Mary.
"I'm going to go change out of this into something a little more comfortable." Mary said leaving the room. She walked into her and Obi-Wan's room. Her bed had been moved in there, and was pushed against a wall, cozy, she thought and a nice place for it. She changed into a soft tan tunic and brushed out her hair and left the room with her hair down with nothing holding it back.
"You look different." Obi-Wan commented when she came back out. "Duh, I'm not wearing a dress." "That's not it. Oh, your hair is down. I've never seen it like that, it looks nice."
Mary looked around the room and in front of the window overlooking Coruscant there was a big blanket on the floor. "What's that for?" Mary asked.
"I thought maybe we could talk and look at Coruscant, I mean there's always something going on out there." He had a point, something was always happening in the Coruscant skies.
Mary thought it was a good idea so she went and sat on the floor next to her husband. After a few minutes of silence Obi-Wan spoke, "Mary, what's you best childhood memory?"
"That would have to definitely be when, on my 13th birthday, Qui-Gon and I were on mission on a beautiful planet and I was upset I couldn't spend my birthday with my friends in the temple. So Qui-Gon took me really high in the mountains where we swam in some waterfalls. Oh, it was so beautiful there; I would love to go back sometime. That's mine, what's yours?"
"When I was I guess 15 or so Qui-Gon and I were on Hoth and we had a snowball fight. It was really cool, and very cold. I had never seen snow before and I remember I won that fight without any effort, I really creamed him."
"Oh, that's mature. Was that story supposed to make me respect you? Oh, well I love you still."
"Mary, you said you knew your parents. Do you remember them, what were they like? Obi-Wan asked. "My parents were wonder people whom I loved very much and I'm glad I had the opportunity to know them. My Father was a Jedi from Coruscant; his name was Kei-Gal Rodel. He was a great fighter and had very good telekinesis skills, he was a very serious man, but he always made me laugh. My mom was Lou Maix Halcyon; she is from a long line of Corellian Jedi. He father Keiran Halcyon was a Jedi Master who had two children, my mother and my Uncle Nejaa. The Halcyon's are notorious for their lack of telekinesis; mom couldn't even make water ripple. But Halcyon's are very gifted in the area of mental projection and mind altering. So that's where I got my use of telekinesis and of mind work, I suppose Jedi traits are genetic to a point. I never have quite mastered the energy absorption thing that most Halcyons are good at. I meet my uncle Nejaa once when I was on Corellia with Qui, he's a really nice man and his wife Scerra is nice too. Nejaa works with CorSec, the Corellian Security Force with a man named Rostek Horn I believe. I got a Holo from Nejaa a few months ago; he and Scerra are expecting a son they are planning to name Valin, so the Halcyon line continues. I suppose I'm lucky to know any of my family history none the less as much as o know."
"You are lucky. I don't know anything about my past, I don't even think Obi-Wan Kenobi is my real name. They sometimes change to names of Jedi. That's why some have odd names and some had normal names, such as Mary. I've always wondered about my past, I hope one day to find some family, I will eventually."
"I'll help you when you look your family. I'd love to do so." Mary leaned back and lay down on the blanket and without knowing it fell asleep. Obi-Wan too fell asleep way much earlier then he intended, but he was tired.
A few hours later Qui-Gon returned looking half-asleep. He walked over towards his room but was stopped short by seeing Mary and Obi-Wan asleep on the floor next to one another. They were quite unaware of his presence so he very quietly went into his room deciding to let them sleep.

A week after the wedding the council once again summoned the trio. When the Kenobi's and Qui-Gon reached the chambers the council was waiting.
"Good day, we know you were just wed but we would have not summoned you if we did not feel it was important. It is. Chancellor Valorum has requested Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan for a mission. The trade federation has set up a blockade around the planet of Naboo in the expansion region. He wants the best to deal with it. That's you." Mace Windu explained.
"We accept the mission." Obi-Wan said after exchanging glances with Qui-Gon.
"Good. Leave in three days do you." Yoda added.
"Excuse me, but why was I also summoned?" Mary inquired. Adi Gallia explained this one; "We also need someone on the surface to protect Queen Amidala. She is young, only 14. She is also newly elected, but very smart. You will go, watch after her and protect her. You leave this afternoon."
"Alright. Thank you." Mary seemed unsettled by this, but she didn't know why. "We know you and Obi-Wan were just wed, but Velorum requested the three of you especially. Don't worry Mary, you'll see Obi-Wan again on Naboo in a few days. Qui-Gon too," Depa Billaba comforted.
That wasn't what was bothering Mary, it was something else. She still didn't know what it was.

----

When they returned to their quarters Mary went directly to her room and put a few things in a bag and carried them into the other room. "Mary," Obi-Wan grabbed her arm and said, "What's wrong? I've never seen you act like this. What is it?" He looked straight into her eyes as he spoke. She threw her arms around him and hugged him, she felt better being closer to him.
"I'm going to miss you, we haven't been apart since we met a few months ago." Qui-Gon came closer. "You too Qui-Gon. But there's something else, something elusive, a disturbance in the Force, I just don't know what. I really have to go meet me transport, will you see me off?"
"Of course, now lets go." Qui-Gon said grabbing her bag from her. The three walked to the docking bay talking about the last few months. The best few months ever.
The ship's captain greeted them at the docking bay. Mary said goodbye to her husband and her master before boarding the ship. She loved them both, but in so different ways. She boarded the ship and took off for Naboo leaving master and apprentice without her. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan want back to their quarters in silence, but they were thinking the same things.

----

"When will we arrive in Naboo?" Mary asked the captain once the ship made the jump to hyperspace. "I would guess maybe a standard day. It's very far away." Mary thanked the captain and returned to her cabin to read up on Naboo. She was amazed that the queen was only 14, she had been involved in Naboo politics for many years and had already been the governor of Theed. It wasn't because of the line of royalty and she was next in line the people of Naboo had voted her into office knowing well of her age. She finished reading more on the political system, the planet people; including and amphibious creatures that dwell under the oceans and lake of the planet called Gungans. She read more into the history and culture before she fell asleep, wishing she was with Obi-Wan.
Mary awoke when someone knocked on her cabin door. "Jedi Rodel? We're approaching Naboo." A ship commander said. "Thank you, I'll be in the cockpit in a minute." She stretched her arms, it seemed like a short trip but maybe it was just her. After all she slept almost the entire way.
"That poor planet. Why did the Trade Federation take control of Naboo? It's a peaceful planet. I guess Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon will find out why." She tough this while looking out the window at the beautiful green orb. The orb was floating on a plane of black with white dots a peaceful serene sight. But the big ugly Trade Federation control ships encompassing the planet marred the serene surroundings.

----

The captain got permission to land in Theed, Naboo's capitol. The ship began the landing cycle. When the ship landed Mary walked off and the transport took off bound for Coruscant to pick up their next batch of Jedi ambassadors.
As the ship left Naboo's atmosphere a black man of medium height stepped up to Mary and asked, "Are you Jedi Rodel?" "Yes I'm Jedi Mary Rodel."
"Welcome to Naboo. I'm Captain Panaka, the Queen's security chief. The queen has been expecting you. Come with me." Mary followed the captain deep into the heart of Theed. Trying not to draw attention to herself, she put her hood over her head.
The Jedi and the security captain walked a short distance to the palace and then to the throne room. Four security guards opened the doors and Mary walked in. And she saw Queen Amidala for the first time. She was wearing an elaborately crafted blue dress; it was hundreds of times more beautiful than her own wedding dress. But what was she to expect from a queen.
"Welcome Jedi Rodel. Captain can you leave us alone?" Amidala asked. "Yes your highness. Nice to meet you Jedi Rodel." Captain Panaka said as he left the throne room.
"Please Jedi Rodel, sit down, rest a little." The queen gestured, Mary sat. "Please your highness, call me Mary. May I ask what I am doing to protect you?"
"Well Mary, you are going undercover as one of my handmaidens. That assures you will always be able to keep watch at all times." "Thank you, that sounds like a well thought out plan."
"Um, Mary do you know who the ambassadors are who are going to negotiate with the Trade Federation are?" The young queen asked.
"Yes I do," Mary said smiling as the thought of her husband and Master who will soon be talking to the Federation. She continued, "One is master Qui-Gon Jinn, a very experienced fighter. He is also very respected in the Jedi order and also he is the Jedi who trained me. I was his first padawan. This other is his current padawan learner, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan is also my husband, we were married just a little over a week ago." Mary explained.
The queen was silent as the took all this in, "Then congratulations Jedi Kenobi. I'm glad you know them, it seems we are in good hands. We need to go and get you a handmaiden's outfit. Fallow me." The queen stood up and walked of he room with Mary at her heals. They walked through the long halls of the Theed palace passing numerous people and workers that all waved at the queen and strangely dressed guest. They finally reached a room with four blue robed handmaidens. They all stopped talking when the queen and Jedi entered the room.
A handmaiden resembling the queen named Sabe stepped forward, "Is this the Jedi?" "Yes I am." Mary answered. Wow, people here really care when you're a Jedi, Mary thought. "Good, sit here, We need to redo your hair." Mary obediently sat down as another woman came forward and undid Mary's braided bun and began the time-consuming process of making many, many small braids with Mary's hair.
When the hair was done Mary changed into a blue robe and removed her lightsaber as requested. She felt naked without her lightsaber. Now weaponless Mary returned to the throne room to meet up with the rest of the handmaidens and the queen. She paused and looked out a window. Naboo indeed was a beautiful planet full of lush rolling hills and beautiful buildings. Captain Panaka was also in the room when Mary entered.
"We need to let you in on a few secrets we have. In case of extreme emergencies I will trade places with Sabe and I will become the handmaiden 'Padme'. There is no Padme except for when Sabe is the queen. We have always hoped we never need to do this but it's there in case we need it. Only a few people know this. You can't tell anyone unless it is totally necessary. Do you understand that?" Queen Amidala asked.
"Yes I do understand." Mary answered. "How well trained are you in self defense?" Captain Panaka asked. What a stupid question, she thought to herself, "I have been trained as a Jedi who knows a lot of defense, but my Master has also taught me more." Mary said keeping her cool.
"That's good, but just in case you must carry this.'" Captain Panaka said handing her a small silver sleeve blaster. "Only for emergencies. It's small but powerful, be careful with it. Now let's go about business as usual."
"What is business as usual?" Mary asked. "Good question, just follow the others. Mainly you sit in on meetings in those chairs." The queen responded gesturing to the elegant wooden chairs lining the wall.

----

The day had ended after the throne room briefing and Mary was shone were she was to sleep. By Naboo standards it was a small room, but compared to her room in the Jedi temple on Coruscant, it was enormous, just a bed with a small table and chair and a view screen with Holonet capabilities. She looked at the screen and pushed a button. The screen lit up showing Theed. She connected to the Holonet and spoke into a microphone, "Room 13401128, Jedi temple, Coruscant." A funny animated Ewok danced on the screen then she saw her home, she typed in her secret access code and she heard beeping. She spoke again, "Obi-Wan are you there?"
A figure approached, it was Obi-Wan, "Mary, is that you? It must be, you look like my wife, and I've missed you. Cool outfit, I like it. Is Naboo nice?"
"It's me. Yes, I like the robe too it's pretty. Naboo is so beautiful; I can't wait to see what you think of it. When do you and Qui-Gon leave?" Obi-Wan sat thinking, "Um, we leave in two days. Have you heard anything about the Trade Federation? What are we up against?"
"I heard they have a huge droid army and the Nedimoians are in charge. I think they'll fall easily but there is a strong power behind them. But no one knows who it is. I'm sorry darling but I need to get some sleep, I've had a full day, I mostly sat in on meetings but my body is one Coruscant Standard Time and on Naboo they use their time. Be safe, I'll see you in a few days. May the Force be with you." Obi-Wan bowed and blew her a kiss and Mary did the same. The screen went black and Mary went to sleep.

----

Mary slept that night, not as soundly as she had hoped. She wished she was on Coruscant, she was puzzled, and she used to love to go on missions. She still did, but her priorities had changed. "Oh well, I'll figure it out sooner or later. But right now I protect the queen; I can handle that," she thought.
When Mary awoke the next morning a tray of food and now a green outfit and robe appeared on the table. She ate the food and put on the clothes and went into the throne room and sat in the chair all day. Today queen Amidala spent the entire day with Sio Bibble, the governor of Theed. They spoke about the blockade and how it's affecting the city and planet. The queen decided that no matter what happened she would not sign any treaty that did not favor the Naboo. Three more days passed with many meetings, Mary learned a lot about Naboo politics and other things.

----

On the fourth morning when Mary went into the throne room the queen said, "Your boyfriend's back." "Excuse me? I don't understand." Mary responded taken back from the queens' almost rude comment. "The ambassadors are on board the control ship. This blockade is going to end soon, I hope." She replied from in front of a large glass bay window that made her red dress shimmer in the morning sunlight. Mary hoped it would end soon too.

----

A few hours later the queen sent a transmission to the control ship. The Nedimoians said no ambassadors were aboard. Mary couldn't believe her ears, aboard. She reached deep into the Force and she found Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. They were on the ship. The Nedimoians lied! She knew they had. The queen turned off the HoloCam and muttered, "I can't believe it, they're not there."
"Excuse me your highness." Mary said stepping forward. "They are there. The ambassadors are aboard the ship. I can feel it." "Thank you Jedi Rodel. I'm very thankful for your help. Why would they lie? What is happening?" The queen was silent, then spoke to captain Panaka, and "Call in the governors and get Senator Palaptine on Coruscant."
The governors came in and a blue holographic image of the senator flicked into a life-size translucent blue 3D image standing on the ground. He spoke, "Good day your highness. Have the ambassadors arrived?"
The queen looked at Mary; she nodded her head, "The Trade Federation claims they are not aboard. But we know for a fact they are aboard." The queen explained.
"How do you know?" The senator asked with one eyebrow raised. The queen thought. Only those who had to know were to be told about their Jedi protector, he did not need to know. "Um, Chancellor Velorum contacted us and told us so." The queen told a very convincing lie, Palpatine nodded, and he had believed her.
The holographic image began to flicker and break up into static. The queen looked worried, "Senator, Senator Palaptine?" The image then disappeared completely. Sio Bibble spoke, "A communication disruption can mean only one thing…invasion." "Your highness, you should sign the treaty, it's in the best interest of the Naboo." Captain Panaka explained.
"I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war. I just cannot." Was the queen's confident reply. The queen dismissed the governors and she spoke to Sabe. "We need to switch, now. The other dress is in your room. Mary follow me."
Mary followed the queen into another room and helped her remove her large headdress and found her a handmaiden robe to change into. "Your highness…" "No, Padme. Remember I'm Padme. No one must know I am the Queen. Not even the ambassadors." Padme interrupted. "What is to happen now. I mean if Naboo is being invaded, where are we going?" Mary continued.
"I wish I knew, come let's return to the throne room." Padme responded. The Jedi and Queen walked both as common handmaidens instead of being who they really were. When they reached the throne room they both sat in the chairs designated for a handmaiden. They listened to Captain Panaka's orders of what to do in case of invasion. A few hours later the doors threw open and a small army of battle droids with weapons came in.
"Come with us." The one who looked in charge mechanically said. "Do as they say your highness." Panaka said. All complied and followed the droids. Quietly they left the palace, after walking a way they passed a balcony where two men dressed in brown gracefully jumped down and ignited their lightsabers and sliced the droids in half. Then an amphibious creature fell after them and said, "Yousa guys bombad!"
The queen and others followed the browned cloaked men into corner. "I'm Qui-Gon Jinn and this is Obi-Wan Kenobi, we are the Chancellor's ambassador's. Are you Queen Amidala of the Naboo?" Sabe was silent and said, "Yes, I am."
The Sio Bibble spoke up and almost mocking the Jedi he said, "I see the negotiations didn't go well."
"The negotiations never took place." Qui-Gon looked at the queen, she seemed to go pale, but you couldn't tell under all the white make up. "We must make contact with the Republic." He added
"We can't." Panaka retorted. "They've knocked out all our communications."
"Do you have transports?" Qui-Gon eagerly asked. "In the main hanger." Panaka answered.
The Naboo queen and her handmaidens, security officers, and the Jedi walked quietly to the main hanger. Panaka gestured to a long sleek gleaming silver Nubian, "The Queen's personal transport."
"We need to go to Coruscant. Your highness, I recommend you come with us and plead your case to the Senate." Qui-Gon told her.
There was much quick discussion and finally Padme said, "We are brave your highness." The queen said she would go and Sio Bibble said he would stay. "What about the droids guarding the place?" Panaka asked gesturing to a corner full of droids pointing blasters at Naboo pilots.
"I'll take care of that." Obi-Wan said. Mary almost followed him, but then she remembered that today she was a handmaiden, not a Jedi. Obi-Wan successfully freed the pilots and a few ran away and a few went to the queen's ship. One took the controls and said, "I'm Ric Olie. Now let's get past that blockade." With Ric at the controls the queen's transport the silvery craft flew out of the hanger and began to leave Naboo's atmosphere.
All aboard starred in awe when the blockade came into view. They all were wondering why they were doing this to Naboo. All except Ric; he had to get past the blockade. Qui-Gon entered the cockpit while another laser blast shook the ship. "Why don't you fire back?" He calmly asked. "We have no weapons aboard." Panaka answered. 'Great no weapons,' Qui-Gon thought to himself.
Obi-Wan had put the amphibious creature; a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks in a hold with the repair droids hoping he would stay out of trouble.
A screen lit up in the cockpit showing a fire, the astromech droids went outside the ship to repair the ship, all the droids except for the one Jar Jar broke. In the cockpit a view screen showed an image of the droids. One got blown away, then another. "There is only one left." Ric said with a solemn look on his face. The blinking lights stopped and looked at Panaka, "That little droid did it! We're saved!"

----

The ship passed the blockade without many harms, but the hyperdrive was shot. They would have to land. Obi-Wan was looking at a star map and said, "Here Master, Tattoine." He said pointing to a planet. "Tattoine?" Panaka said. "It's out of reach of the Trade Federation. It's controlled by the Hutts." Qui-Gon said.
"The Hutts? You can't take your Royal Highness there. The Hutts will kill her." Panaka fired back. Qui-Gon thought, 'oh yes I will; just watch me,' but he did not say that, that would be rather rude. "But the Hutts aren't looking for us. The Federation is." Qui-Gon answered.
Qui-Gon and Panaka went to the queen's meeting room aboard the ship. The queen agreed that Tattoine was a good place to go and she would trust the Jedi's judgement. The astromech droid that saved the ship was brought out all battered, tarnished, and a little worse for the wear, "This is the droid that saved the ship." Panaka said.
"It deserves our gratitude, what is its number?" She asked. Panaka bent over and wiped off some soot and replied. "R2-D2." "Thank you R2-D2, Padme." Padme stepped forward, "Padme please go and clean up our little rescuer." The Queen smiled and Padme walked out with R2.
The Queen, Panaka and Qui-Gon finished talking and Panaka told Mary, "You can go about the ship if you wish." "Thank you." Mary said as she walked out of the room.

Chapter 12

Mary walked throughout the ship until she found the place where the hyperdrive was. With the Force she made herself unnoticeable and snuck up behind Obi-Wan who was trying to do something to the hyperdrive. She got right behind him and put her hands over his eyes and said, "Guess who?" Obi-Wan seemed startled but answered, "Um, Master Yoda?"
In her best Yoda voice she answered, "No, No. Try again, try you must." Obi-Wan smiled, "Qui-Gon?" Now in her best Qui-Gon impression she replied, "Try again my young apprentice. I'll give you a clue." With his eyes still covered Mary turned Obi-Wan around to face her and gave him a kiss. She felt Obi-Wan's eyes open and she took off her hand and said, "Someone who loves you."
"I see that now." Obi-Wan put his arms around Mary spun her around three times to a bench and sat on it with Mary in his lap. "I missed you." He said. She scooted off his lap and onto the bench beside him. "I missed you too. So, Valorum said this was an easy mission?" She said with sarcasm in her voice.
"I agree. On the control ship the Nedimoians pumped gas into the room we were in and it almost killed us. Then they sent in battle droids to finish us off. When they failed they used destroyer droids on us. Then we learned that they blew up our ship with the pilots in it and then we left the control ship by sneaking aboard a landing craft and once on Naboo's surface were almost run over by battle tanks when we met the Gungan, Jar-Jar. He then took us to the Gungan City where they gave us a Bongo after getting stuck with him for LIFE then we traveled through the planet's core almost being eaten by numerous sea creatures. Finally we got to Theed and we met up with you." Obi-Wan blurted out.
"Wow, what a full day. I sat in meeting and was held at gunpoint. Nothing new, I'm glad you're alive." Mary said.
"I'm glad I'm alive too. So, have you given any thought on what you're going to do about you name? Are you going to use Rodel or Kenobi?"
"Well, my idea is to use both. I mean I'll go by Rodel or Kenobi. But most often I'll use Rodel, I mean how confusing would it be to have two Jedi Kenobis? Or I'll hyphenate it. Actually I haven't given it any thought." Mary confessed.
"Sounds good. I like that, Jedi Mary Rodel-Kenobi, it has a nice ring to it." Obi-Wan said with a smile.
Mary looked at Obi-Wan and asked, "Do you feel any different being married?" Obi-Wan thought for just a moment and answered, "No, not really. But I do. I like it, ya know." "Same here, I like it, I mean…well ya know."
"Exactly, it's just different we just haven't had time to have it feel any different." Obi-Wan said. "Qui-Gon told me he thinks I would be able to pass the trials soon. Like, after the Naboo mission."
"Cool, I'm proud of you." She said giving her husband a kiss on the cheek before sneaking off to catch some sleep. Mary had not been able to sleep well at all since she arrived on Naboo. It wasn't not seeing Obi-Wan although that helped some but it was what she felt before the journey began, what she had felt in the Jedi temple that made he uneasy about the mission, but finally she slept a little. On the ship there were few closed quarters so she found a bench in a larger room where she slept.

----

A few hours after Mary had fallen asleep Qui-Gon walked passed her while looking for her because her wished to speak to her. When he saw that she was asleep he decided to leave his robe with her, a signal between them to see the other A.S.A.P
When Mary awoke she found the robe and went to find Qui-Gon. She found him meditating in another room, "I heard you had a full couple of days." She said. Qui-Gon got up off the floor and hugged Mary, "Tell me about it, but at least we're alright." "I agree, I missed you."
"Um, Master Jinn. We're almost on Tattoine." Panaka said when he popped his head in the room. "Thank you. I'll be up in the cockpit in a moment." Qui-Gon replied. He turned to Mary and held up a finger loosely signing that he would return in a minute and to wait for him. So Mary obediently sat and waited. When Qui-Gon returned he had changed into a gray poncho, dressed like a farmer from these parts. "You look nice Master Farmer, er-um Qui-Gon." "Very funny, actually this is quite comfortable. Maybe when I retire I'll become a farmer." He said dong some twists at the waist to show how comfortable it was. "I get it." Mary muttered.
Qui-Gon walked to the cockpit and told Ric to land on the outskirts of town. Qui-Gon went to the hyperdrive where he found Obi-Wan looking at the damage. Obi-Wan lifted his head, "This one's shot. Looks like we'll need a totally new one, Master." "I see, I'm going into town to try to find one. Don't allow any transmission to be sent." Obi-Wan nodded. "Obi-Wan, keep safe. And keep the others and Mary safe until I come back. And be wary, I sense a disturbance in the Force." "I feel it too. And don't worry, they'll be safe, I'm here." Qui-Gon nodded shaking his head at how sarcastic Obi-Wan could be at times.
Qui-Gon left the ship with R2-D2 and Jar-Jar in tow. Mary looked out a window and saw Panaka walk Padme out to see Qui-Gon. The Jedi master made a lot of hand gestures and looked fed up when he beckoned Padme to follow him to town and Panaka returned to the ship.

Chapter 13

Mary left the window and met Panaka at the door where she asked, "Now what do we do?" Panaka thought for a moment, "Well, we just wait until Qui-Gon gets back. Hopefully with a new hyperdrive." "I understand, thank you."
Mary sat in a chair for a few minutes thinking, then she got up and walked around the ship until she finally found Obi-Wan. "There you are. I've been looking for you everywhere." She told him when she entered the hyperdrive room. "Are you still fooling with this thing?" She asked referring to the broken hyperdrive.
"Yes. I'm seeing if there is any way to fix it besides getting a new drive, but I have discovered that that is impossible." He answered putting the tool he was holding on a bench. "Nothing is impossible with the Force." Mary muttered.
Obi-Wan gave his wife a stern look then he jabbed her in the arm, "Will you stop kidding? This is a serious matter. I mean I put all my trust in the Force, my life is the Force…but even master Yoda couldn't fix this hyperdrive with the Force."
"I'm really sorry. I have realized over time that in a serious situation where I'm scarred or worried on confused I just make up and dumb joke or say something sarcastically and unfortunately I usually say them. That's my major flaw."
"Oh, well I'm sorry to. I didn't mean to be so harsh on you. I'm just really stressed out right now." Obi-Wan said with the tone of his voice much more gentle and understanding. Obi-Wan walked to Mary's side and out his arm around her shoulders and asked, "Now what?" "We wait until Qui-Gon gets back. We just sit here for who knows how long." She responded.
"Sounds like fun." He muttered.

----

After a few hours Obi-Wan went outside the transport looking for his master when the wind began to pick up and sand was being pelted at his face when his comlink beeped and he received a message from Ric that they were receiving a Holo message from home. The transmission received was from Sio Bibble on Naboo saying something about a catastrophic death toll and that they must contact him at once. Panaka was jumping out of his seat preparing to respond but Obi-Wan told him that no transmissions should be sent that might give the Federation a chance to trace the transmission and find them. Panaka was mad at first but soon saw the Jedi's logic and settle back down explaining to the queen no transmission would be sent.
After the whole transmission mini crisis was solved Tattoine's twin suns began to set and soon after that night fell and Obi-Wan decided to find Mary. He found her talking to Sabe and the other handmaidens that came with the queen. They were talking about girl stuff and stopped abruptly when the man entered the room. They said something about the hot weather conditions on Tattoine to cover up.
"Um Mary. You wanna come with me?" Mary looked at the girls and smiled that 'uh oh, my husband wants to talk to me' smile that really means 'ha! He wants to see me, so what I told you about him is true he really is sweet.' The girls smiled too and Mary stood up and said, "Sure." And left the room with Obi.
"Have you heard anything from Qui-Gon yet?" Mary inquired. "Not a thing but just wait he'll contact us soon." He replied, he sounded exhausted. "Obi, you sound really tried and look like a power cable after a mynok has chewed on it. Why don't you get some sleep."
"You're right, I'll see you in the morning. Night Mary." He said giving her a kiss on the cheek before finding a bench. Mary followed and also found a bench to sleep on. Being that the Queen's ship was not meant for as many people as it had on it, many people had to sleep on the ship benches due to the lack of quarters

----

The next morning Qui-Gon still hadn't come back to the ship. In the late evening Obi-Wan's comlink beeped and he heard the familiar sound of his master's voice. He said, "Obi-Wan, I'm sending you a blood sample I need you to run a medichilorian test on it." Obi brought the sample up on the computer in front of him and said, "Master there must be some kind of malfunction the medichilorian count is over twenty thousand, not even master Yoda has a count that high."

----

Qui-Gon sighed. He knew this boy he had encountered on Tattoine, Anakin, the slave boy, was the chosen one, a Jedi prophecy that refers to the one who will bring balance to the force. He knew he wasn't to interfere with the boy's life due to the Jedi code. But he must, he would have to defy the council again, no matter at what costs.

----

"Good night Obi-Wan." That was all Qui-Gon said. Obi-Wan immediately went to get Mary tell her of what kind of amazing information he had just received. He found her once again talking with the girls but this time she just got up and talked to him. "What is it?" she asked.
"Listen to this. Qui-Gon just sent me a transmission on the comlink and sent me a blood sample to do a medicholirian count on and the count was over twenty thousand." "Master Yoda's isn't even that high!" Mary interrupted. "I know, that's what I said. Nothing more except good night, Obi-Wan. What was that all about?"
"He must have encountered one powerful person." Mary said eyes wide open from the shock of the riveting news.


Chapter 14

Qui-Gon came back the next day. He had found a hyperdrive that he won. He said he would explain the story later. He had a lot to say when he returned after returning pack animals to the town. After a few hours Obi and Mary saw two figures coming. One very tall…Qui-Gon and the other much, much shorter: some unknown person. ' A pathetic life form as Obi-Wan would say.' Mary thought as she left the window as did Obi-Wan and then a short blond boy ran on the ship and into the cockpit and yelled to Ric, "Qui-Gon's in trouble he says to take off!" Ric did as the boy said seeing for himself that Qui-Gon being attacked by a man in black, both with lightsabers. Obi entered the cockpit and instructed Ric to fly low.
Mary went to a window and saw her master being attacked and she was instantly worried for his safety. After a few minutes Qui jumped on the landing ramp, as did the black cloaked man. Qui, who then ran into the ship, pushed off the black clocked man; Qui fell just inside the hatch where Obi and the blonde boy, Anakin (the one with the medichilorian count) met him. He introduced the two and went to the cockpit just after making the jump to hyperspace. After he was through with the cockpit he ran into Mary, who hugged him, and said, "Who was that? Are you alright, and who is the little kid?"
"I don't know who the attacker was and the kid is Anakin Skywalker and I'm fine," he answered panting, "just tired."
"Good." Mary led her master into a room with a table with obi next to it and they both sat down. "Now Master, what happened out there?"
"Well, I went to this shop owned by a Toydarian named Watto, he was an odd little blue creature who owns slaves!" He began. "But I thought slavery had been stopped!" Mary interrupted.
"You should know better, Mary; after all you went on that mission to investigate slavery on planets. The Republic doesn't exist here. Slavery is very common. That's where Anakin comes in. He was Watto's slave but I got him freed and he is the one with the extraordinarily high medichilorian count." Mary and Obi-Wan had blank looks on their faces they were very puzzled.
"Let me further explain. Watto wouldn't accept Republic credits so I asked Obi if there were any tradable goods on the ship, where there weren't. Then when we left Jar Jar almost got himself killed by a Dug named Sebulba who is a pilot a pod in the pod races. You know what pod racers are, right?" Mary and Obi nodded they both knew, neither of them had see one in person but had see Holos of it, very fast very dangerous.
"So Anakin saved Jar Jar from Sebulba and then there was a sandstorm and Anakin invited us into his home for shelter where we met his mother, a lovely woman named Shimi. Anakin has no father. Shimi said she carried the child, gave birth and raised him but no father. I believe he was conceived by medichilorian. Padme asked if there was anything that the junk dealers had a weakness for and Shimi told us that their weakness was gambling and they bet everything on the pod races. So Anakin said he was secretly building a pod racer hidden from Watto and that I could sponsor him in the Boonta Eve race today. Shimi protested, but finally gave in when she saw how much Anakin wanted to do this. I asked Watto if the boy could pilot my podracer, which is really Anakin's, and he allowed it. He fronted the entry fee. If Anakin won he would get all the winnings minus the amount for the parts we needed."
"Oh Master! Please don't tell us you trusted that kid. But knowing you, you went ahead and did it anyway." Mary protested to no avail.
"You know me well Mary. Yes, Anakin piloted the pod and he won the race and I also bet Watto for the boys' freedom and his mother's. Watto said no winnings would be worth two slaves so we had used his chance cube to settle it. We got Annie. He was freed and left Shimi and he may become a Jedi. I have to speak with the council about that on Coruscant."
"But isn't Anakin too old?" Obi-Wan questioned. "Yes, he's nine. But I believe he is the Chosen One. Maybe the council would make an exception."
"Master, I doubt the council would make an exception like that Chosen One or no Chosen One. He is too old, dangerous, there is a great possibility of him becoming dark and using the dark side. Speaking of darkness who was that you fought?" Mary asked.
"I don't know I think he may have been after the queen but who knows. He was also well trained in the Jedi art of fighting. It may have been a Sith."
The feeling Mary had when she first excepted the mission came back to her and she shook it away. "A SITH? Master, I think you've been in the sun may too long. They're extinct, for over a millennium. There is a very, very, very slim chance it was a Sith. Please don't say stuff like that you scare me." Mary blurted out in real distress.
"I'm sorry Mary. I forgot that the subject of Sith scares you quite a bit." Qui-Gon said. "It does me too, but you don't have to get all worked up about it." Obi-Wan said. Mary just gave him a look that told him, 'you mess with me right now and you get it.'
"I'm sorry about the way I'm acting I just have that feeling again, I don't know what is but it makes my really uncomfortable. That dark Jedi was the closest thing to a Sith I have ever seen but I never want to get closer or have either of you or anyone get closer then that." She explained.
"I remember when you had been my padawan a few years and you listened to a lecture of the history of the Sith and wow, you were so upset that night I could barley get you to stop crying. It really did frighten you. I really am sorry. I completely forgot."
"Its alright, people forget things. So where were you?" Mary said.
"Well Shimi was sad to see him go but took it well and I hope the council does change their minds about some old rules." When Qui-Gon finished the little blonde boy ran into the room and stopped when he saw the two Jedi and the 'handmaiden.'
"Oh hi Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon, who is this?" Anakin asked pointing to Mary. Mary looked at Qui who nodded implying it was all right to tell him she was a Jedi. "She is Mary Rodel Kenobi. Or I should say Jedi Mary Rodel Kenobi."
"You're a Jedi too?" Anakin asked. Mary stooped over to be eye level with the boy. "Yes I am. But it's kinda a secret. I'm disguised as one of the queen's handmaidens so I can protect her. But I hear you're good at keeping secrets."
"I am a good secret keeper. Wow, there are three Jedi with me, I feel really safe. But Obi-Wan sir, I thought your name was Kenobi?"
"Anakin I would like you to meet my wife Mary." Obi-Wan said putting his arm around Mary, smiling. "So you two are married?" Mary nodded and then Qui-Gon said, "And you know Obi is my padawan. Mary was my padawan before Obi-Wan."
"Now that's confusing. So let me get this straight. You're all Jedi and both of you," He said pointing at Mary and Obi, "Are and were Qui-Gon's padawans and the two padawans are married to each other. And Mary is a Jedi undercover as a handmaiden."
"You catch on fast." Qui-Gon said leading Anakin out of the room.

Chapter 15

Soon the ship arrived on Coruscant. Anakin looked out a window and was totally astonished by the vastness of the city that covered the entire planet. He had never seen so much civilization in his short life. "You live there?" He asked Qui-Gon. Qui answered him, "Sometimes, when I'm not on a mission I have quarters in the Jedi Temple." "Which one is that?" Anakin asked as they neared the landing platform. "That one." Qui-Gon said pointing to the largest and tallest building, the Jedi temple. "There…Wow. That's big."

----

Palpatine met the ship at the landing pad and said to the queen, "Queen Amidala I would like to introduce to you Supreme Chancellor Valorum," he said as a human man of average height with silvery white hair stepped forward. "It's an honor to meet you your highness. I must tell you that everyone is very distressed about the current situation involving Naboo. I have called a special session of the Senate so you may present your case." "Thank you Chancellor," the queen replied following Palpatine away from the ship.
Mary went with the queen and her personal staff to Senator Palatine's office. Qui, Obi and Anakin went to the Jedi temple to have Anakin taken before the council to be interviewed.

----

Mary went with the queen and Padme disappeared, actually the real queen was the acting queen when they arrived at Senator Palpatine's quarters. Palpatine told Amidala the he thought that she should bring up the idea of new leadership in the senate. He said it would be one of the only ways to get what they wanted due to the corruption that was sweeping the senate. The bureaucrats were in charge now. He said they should get rid of Supreme Chancellor Valorum. The queen argued that Valorum had been one of their strongest supporters. But Palpatine insisted it was for the best.
'Get rid of Valorum! This is impossible! He is sound and stable and knows what he's doing. They can't get rid of him,' Mary thought the chancellor being a very close friend of Qui-Gon.
The queen took Mary and the handmaidens Eirtae and Rabe with her to the senate. Anakin had returned from the temple and said he was to be tested and Rabe said that he could accompany them to the senate with Jar Jar and see what was happening. The queen and other Naboo people that came with her were in awe of the sight of the size of the senate building and were amazed of the inside with the floating boxes. But for Mary it was just an average day at the galactic senate.

----

The Queen entered the box assigned for the Naboo system with Palpatine, Mary, the other handmaidens, Panaka and some senate guards in royal blue armor. Rabe had handed a small viewscreen to Anakin and told him that he could not accompany them into the box. Anakin was disappointed but at least he had a viewscreen to share with Jar Jar. The box left its landing pad and Palpatine addressed the senators telling them of the atrocities of what was happening on Naboo. Then he introduced the Queen of Naboo and the crowd began to whisper. It was very rare for a queen or someone that high in the leadership of a system to come and address the senate. The queen began slowly, "My fellow people, I come here under the gravest of circumstances. The Naboo system has been invaded by the droid armies of the trade federation."
The box containing Lott Dott, the senator for the trade federation, came up before the chancellor beside the Naboo box and he said, "There is not proof of that." And Chancellor Valorum told him that he had not been called on and to go away. Lott protested saying there should be a committee to investigate. The queen spoke up and said, "I suggest that new leadership is needed. I call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum." Valorum, who had been standing, slowly sank back into his chair and the senate began to buzz with conversation.
The motion was seconded and the senator that seconded the vote said, "There must be no delays." And the entire senate chamber began echoing with the sounds of senators chanting, "Vote now! Vote now!" Palpatine leaned over to Amidala and whispered to her, "The senate is with us. Valorum will be voted out and there will be new leadership and this will be resolved." Mary noticed that a strange look came over the queen's face; it was a look of worry. She was probably thinking about what had she done, what she had allowed this to happen to a good man such as Valorum.

----

An hour later in the queen's chamber Anakin burst in and came face to face with the queen, and he said, "Oh, I'm sorry your majesty I was just looking for Padme." The queen smiled and said, "Padme isn't here right now; I sent her on an errand." "Oh, I just wanted to tell her that Qui-Gon is taking me to the temple to have me tested, I might become a Jedi Knight." The boy exclaimed. "I'll tell her that. I'm sure she'll be pleased to hear that."
Mary slipped out of the chamber and yelled out of the door, "Anakin!" Anakin stopped where he was and came back down the hall to see what Mary wanted. She leaned over and told him, "I'm glad you're going to be tested. I just wanted to wish you good luck. The life of a Jedi is hard but still very rewarding. May the Force be with you."
"Thank you Mary. Thanks for the advice." Mary didn't know what it was but once again she got a chill down her spine when she spoke to Anakin, she sensed something again about the boy. She hoped it would go away sometime soon; she was tired of these gut feelings.

----

Hours after Anakin had left to go to the council Jar Jar came in and spoke to Amidala. They had a long discussion about the suffering on Naboo. Mary and Eirtae and Rabe where the only other people in the room to watch the talk. The queen looked so sad; she was upset her people were suffering and dying and she was too far away from her people to help them. She had to do something about that.
After the discussion Panaka burst in smiling and startled everyone in the room by saying, "Your highness Senator Palpatine has been nominated to succeed Valorum."
Palpatine stepped forward with a huge smile on his face and promised the queen that if he were elected that he would put and end to the federation's rule over Naboo. "Who else has been nominated?" The queen asked. "Bail Antillies of Aldaraan and Aks Moe of Malastar." Panaka answered.
"The voting takes place tomorrow, I assure you that I will win." Palpatine told the queen.
Amidala was not impressed. She spoke more with the senator before telling him, "Senator, this is your arena, now I feel I must return to mine. I must return to Naboo. My place is with my people." Palpatine was shocked that she wanted to leave. He told her that the federation would force her to sign a treaty but she assured him she would not sign any treaty and then she told Panaka that she wanted to leave immediately. Jar Jar began to jump up and down yelling in pure excitement, "Wessa going home!"
Amidala turned to Panaka and said to him, "Ready my ship." The queen gathered up her people and contacted the Jedi that they were leaving and instructed them to meet them at the landing platform.

----

Qui, Obi and Anakin left the temple and met the queen at the ship. While boarding the ship, Mary noticed her master and her husband in the middle of a heated argument, over what she presumed was about the boy. She saw Obi-Wan leave his master alone with the boy and then she saw Anakin say some stuff to Qui-Gon. Then they too boarded the ship and left Coruscant.

Chapter 16

Once aboard the ship, and after they made the jump to hyperspace, Mary found Obi-Wan and asked him what he was arguing about with Qui-Gon. "Anakin." Was Obi-Wan's reply. "What, tell me more. What happened in the temple?"
"Well, Anakin definitely has a high medichilorian count and he passed the tests. Also Mace and Ki-Adi and some others agree with Qui that his attacker was probably a Sith." Mary closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again. A Sith, this is bad she thought.
"Well the council forbid Qui-Gon to take Anakin as his padawan." Obi-Wan sighed. "How could he? I mean you're his padawan." Mary interrupted.
"I know, but he says I have learned all I can from him and I am ready to pass the trials. But Yoda says Anakin's future is clouded and he is too old to begin training. I agree, he is too old. Well I think the boy is dangerous so does the entire council but Qui won't except it. He still believes he is the Chosen One. I can see that, but...still. Yoda also says to have Anakin stay with us on Naboo but Qui cannot teach him anything about the Force besides what it is and stuff like what a medichilorian is." Obi-Wan said.
"I agree with you. Anakin scares me. That may sound horrible him being a friend of Qui's but there is just something about that boy. I can't see his future but what I do see is pretty hazy. But please try to agree with Qui or at least don't have an argument now. Something really bad is going to happen soon on this mission, but I know now that's what has been bugging me since we left Coruscant the first time. Just be nice. You never know what the future may hold. Now come with me. The queen needs to talk with people about what happens when we get to Naboo." Mary said beginning down the hallway.

----

They entered the room with the queen, her security guards. Her handmaidens, Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar and Anakin. The queen, after consulting with Panaka about what would happen, called on Jar Jar. "Meesa?" was his response. He stepped forward and faced the queen. "You said the Gungans have an army right?"
"Yessir, wessa have a grand army." He replied. "Good, we will land near the Gungan swamp." The queen then asked the Jedi about their part they would take in the battle. Qui-Gon told her, "We can only protect you we cannot fight a war for you. As Jedi we aren't allowed to take sides. We can only protect you we cannot fight the Federation." "I understand. Thank you." She responded.
The ship entered the Naboo system and noticed that all the blockade ships had left except for the droid control ship. The queen's ships landed near the Gungan swamp and Obi-Wan took the opportunity to speak with his master. They had a deep talk and Obi-Wan finally thanked him for saying he could pass the trials and indirectly they forgave each other. Suddenly a large amphibious head popped out of the swamp and Jar Jar said, "Thessa nobody there! Thesa gone!"
"They have probably been wiped out." Panaka muttered. "Notta du Gungans they go to da secret place. Follow me!" The band of people, Naboo and Jedi followed the Gungan deep into the swamps to a hazy place where a Gungan general met them. "Binks!" Captain Tarples the Gungan general said. "Notta Gain!"
"Wessa come to see da big boss." He replied. The Gungan general looked upset but led the group farther into the haze. Mary was up front with Padme and the queen while the other Jedi brought up the rear of the pack.
After walking through the haze the bands of Naboo came before an open area with what appeared to be ancient statues crumpled to the ground with just the heads of people sticking out of the ground. Then a large but short Gungan can out wearing what appeared to be clothing that signified importance. The people soon figured out that he was Boss Nass and he did not seem pleased by the outsiders who where before him.
He looked at Jar Jar and yelled at him for bringing outsiders into the secret place then the queen stepped forward and said, "I am queen Amidala of the Naboo."
Boss Nass made some strange clicking noise and then said, "Wessa no like da Naboo. Yousa bing de mekinichs. Yousa destroy oursa homes. Wesa no liken yousa da Naboo."
Queen Amidala paused and said again, "We wish to form an alliance with you." Boss Nass exploded, "Wessa form nutten wit da Naboo!"
Padme stepped forward and patted Sabe on the shoulder and turned to Boss Nass and he looked very surprised and said, "Who dis?" The real queen swallowed hard and said, "I am queen Amidala, this," she said gesturing toward Sabe, "Is my loyal body guard Sabe. She serves as my decoy in times of crisis. I am sorry for my deception, under the circumstances I hope you understand." She turned and faced a shocked Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon and Anakin and spoke, "Gentlemen, I apologize for misleading you."

----

Obi-Wan spoke to Mary through the Force at the news of Padme being the Queen, 'You knew?' Mary arched her eyebrows and smiled. 'I wasn't allowed to tell you, I'm sorry.'

----

She again turned to the head Gungan, "Your honor I know our people do not always agree on things, but we have always lived in peace until now when the Trade Federation has taken control of our planet. Your people, the Gungans have been driven into hiding and my people the Naboo have been taken away to camps. If we do not act quickly all will be lost forever. I ask you to help us. No, I beg you to help us."
Abruptly the Naboo ruler dropped to one knee and the audience Gungan and Naboo gasped. "We are your humble servants your honor. Our fate is in your hands please help us." She motioned to the other Naboo and Jedi and they too got down on one knee to beg the Gungan ruler.
Boss Nass laughed, "Ho, ho, ho, me like dis, yousa thinking yousa no greater ten da Gungans." He tottered down to the queen. "Stand Queen Amidoll. Yous talks wit me. Maybe we be friends after all."

Chapter 17

Mary followed the queen around as she spoke with Boss Nass and she soon found out what the attack plan was. The plan was for Captain Panaka to go to Theed and try to collect some remaining Naboo and return with them. Then the Naboo and Jedi would all quietly go to Theed and slip into the palace trough the secret path behind the beautiful Theed waterfall. And the Gungans would distract the droid armies from the city to the hill covered countryside where they would fight face to face to the death or until the queen regained her throne. After they got to Theed, the Naboo pilots, the Bravo squadron would take to the air and fly out to the remaining Federation ship and try to destroy it thus rendering the droid on the ground useless without their directions from up above. 'A good plan. Well thought out.' Mary thought as she walked pass a passed out Jar Jar who had just been promoted in the Gungan army to general.

----

Mary and the other Naboo and Jedi and Anakin took the speeders they found to Theed where she was sided with the queen as the band of rebels snuck into the city. Queen Amidalia, still disguised as Padme, was in the lead of her group and flashes lasers at Panaka's group and then they crept into the main hanger. The pilots jumped into their gleaming yellow Naboo Royal N-1 starfighters, each equipped with an astromech droid.
Once inside the hanger Qui told Anakin to find a safe place and stay there. Anakin choose to sit in a vacant Naboo starfighter until the battle was over. Fire was exchanged between Naboo and the Federation battle droids. There, must to her dismay, Mary was forced to use the pistol she was given when she first arrived on Naboo. She fired at a battle droid and it fell and another and it fell. She had a good aim but she would still much rather have been using her lightsaber.
A massive door leading to the power generation and melting pit opened revealing a man dressed in black. Mary turned her head and immediately recognized him as the Tattoine attacker. He had a long stick in his hand. It looked like a lightsaber but it was too big for a lightsaber. One end ignited then the other. 'He really is a Sith! He has a double bladed lightsaber! By the Force he's a Sith, please, please let Obi and Qui come back from there. If they don't I don't know what will happen.' Mary thought.
The Sith drew Obi and Qui through the door taking strikes whenever he could, all easily deflected. Mary stopped for a moment as she watched them round a corner and disappear from her sight, then she felt something sting on her left arm. A laser bolt grazed her and she hadn't seen or felt it coming. She felt bad realizing that she had let her emotions get in the way of protecting herself from harms way. She returned all her focus to the present and tried not to worry about what the future might hold. She fired more, each time hitting a droid. Then two wheel droids entered the hanger and all tried to fire. But they had deflector shields on board to prevent them from being easily destroyed.

----

Anakin, still in the cockpit as Qui-Gon had instructed him, saw the wheel droids. With the help of R2-D2 lodged in the astromech droid socket in the back he fired some heavy power bolts at the droids destroying them. Then the ship rose up from the place it was stored and began to move toward the hanger exit. Anakin began to scream commands at R2 but the ship was on autopilot and began to leave the Naboo surface. Headed for the command ship.

----

Padme led her group a separate way to the throne room. The other group was with the still decoyed Sabe. They real queen's group left the hanger and began to travel through Theed through underground tunnels and secret passageways only known to the top officials of the capital. Soon they found themselves in a horrible situation against many battle droids with alarms going off everywhere. Panaka turned to the big window and pulled the trigger of his blaster and shot the glass window. The group jumped over the shattered glass and walked out to the ledge six floors below the throne room. They were trapped. They couldn't go back in and jumping into the waterfall didn't seem like a good idea. So they took out their accession guns and aimed for the level with the throne room on it. They then released another button and began to ascend to the higher level. They slowly passed each floor of the palace above them until they finally reached the throne room. The band of what seamed like burglars stopped on the throne room floor and unhooked their ascension guns and shot out another window and climbed in.
They were greeted by a new batch of battle droids and the queen saw they were easily outnumbered. Instructed her group to put their weapons on the ground. The federation had won this round. Panaka hesitated, "But your majesty…" "Have faith captain. They have won this round." She answered before whispering a quiet command over a small comlink. Her group obeyed and bent over and placed their weapons on the ground before them.
Trade federation officers' Rune Haako and Nute Gunray lead two of the queen's handmaidens, Panaka and six Naboo guardsmen into the throne room followed by a squad of ten battle droids. The viceroy, Nute, recognized Panaka at once but was still trying to figure out who the two handmaidens were. One held a strong resemblance to the queen but the other had nothing in common with the queen except for her hair color and a few facial features. The second was too big to be the queen. The other was a handmaiden or, was she?
The viceroy then realized that she was the queen. "Your highness." Nute said. "Viceroy." Padme answered.
"Your attempt to retake the city was failed. Your small army has been crushed and the Jedi are being dealt with elsewhere. And you are my captive."
"Am I?" She answered. That tone in her voice bugged him, almost daring him to disagree.
"Yes, yes you are. Now it is time for you to end this pointless debate in the Galactic Senate. So sign this treaty now." The ugly green creature said thrusting a piece of paper in Padme's face.

----

At the end of the hall a band of battle droids fell to the ground and a woman looking identical to the queen in royal clothing and face paint surrounded by Naboo soldiers said, "I will not be signing any treaty viceroy. You've lost."
The viceroy was dumbfounded. A second queen? Was that possible? He yelled at the six droids holding Panaka and the 'false queen' at bay to go and get the 'real queen' and bring her here.
"The queen will not get away with this." He told Panaka and the others. Padme hung her head in disbelief and she sunk into the throne room chair. Nute just ignored her. He couldn't wait to ship them off to the camps.
Then Padme jumped from the seat and tossed a silver pistol to Panaka and held one herself. She had pulled them from a secret compartment in the throne. Panaka finished off the remaining droids and jammed the door shut. Them Padme turned to Nute and said, "Now, viceroy this is the end of your occupation here. Now lets discuss a new treaty."
'Go Queen Amidala! I knew you could do it. You have saved your people and now you'll show this viceroy how you make a good treaty.' Mary yelled to herself. Laser beams bombarded the door and Panaka and the other guards leveled their blasters. Suddenly all the noise outside the door stopped. "What was that? Activate the viewscreens." Amidala ordered. A viewscreen appeared and Mary and the others saw the Naboo grasslands with stunned Gungans standing, some lay dead or wounded on the ground. All around the field the droids were hanging loosely and limply dropping to the ground. The control ship had been destroyed. Naboo was freed.

----

The new negotiation took place and a new treaty was agreed on and signed. After a few hours of the new free Naboo Mary began to wonder what ever happened to Obi and Qui-Gon. Mary was happy for Naboo but was concerned for her husband and Master, they went off to fight a Sith and she could just tell that something bad had happened.
She went up to the queen, "Congratulations Amidala. Your people are free, you are safe and the droids have been defeated."
"Thank you Jedi. You have served me well. I was proud to have you protect me." She answered. "One more thing. Can I go find my husband and my master? Please I just feel something horrible may have happened." Mary anxiously asked.
"Sure find them and bring them back to the palace. There are still a few loose ands to clear up." Amidala answered shooing the Jedi away.

----

Mary had no clue where they could be so she focused and stretched her sphere of responsibility out with the Force. Finally she found Obi-Wan like a beacon in fog. She followed her instincts down to the hanger and through the power generators. She passed some walls. Laser beams were supposed to be here but it seamed like they had been damaged during the control ship explosion or something like that.
She turned the corner and saw Obi-Wan's back crouched over something. It looked like a person, but it couldn't be. Mary came closer and she saw just feet and legs. She knew those legs.
Her heart sank into the pit of her stomach when the realization of what happened hit her like a Hutt shot from a cannon. "No. No, no." She muttered softly and put her hand on her forehead and rubbed it then dropped her hand. "He can't be. This couldn't have happened. No, it, it. No." Obi-Wan stood up suddenly aware that Mary had entered the room. He wiped something from his eye and said, "Mary, no you shouldn't see him like this." He ran toward her and wrapped her in his arms and turned her face from where Qui-Gon's body lay.
She began to sob loudly. He hadn't even told her that he was gone, she just knew it. "Let me see him. He is…Was…my Master." Obi looked her in the eyes and shook his head slowly but he let her go.
Mary turned slowly trying to avoid the inevitable. It all happened in slow motion, it was so surreal yet so undeniably real. But Mary just didn't want to accept it. She saw Qui-Gon lying on the ground with a burn mark across the center of his tunic. She couldn't believe he was really dead, maybe he wasn't, and maybe he was just in a Jedi healing trance. She stood right over her Master, he was still warm but he lacked a pulse and she could not feel him through the Force. He was truly gone. She fell to her knees on the ground and cried.

---

Obi-Wan came over after a few moments and sat on the floor next to her and took her head and held it trying to comfort her, but it was next to impossible. She and he had both lost their best friend and master. Mary coughed, cleared her throat, and wiped the tears from her eyes and sat on the floor next to her husband. "How did it happen?" She finally had to courage to ask.
"We followed the Sith into the generator with the levels you saw back there. We fought; he was so skilled, even better then Qui. He knocked me down off a landing and I held on. But by the time I got back up he and Qui-Gon had already moved in between the laser beams. Qui stopped to meditate in front of the beam and the Sith paced him. I just stood like a fool and watched. The beam moved and Qui got up and fought him around the melting pit. I got stopped again in front of the last beam. I watched them fight but I couldn't help them. The Sith hit Qui-Gon in the chin and that caught him off guard. He got him in the stomach; it was a killing blow. I think I screamed really loud, the beam moved and I fought the Sith. He knocked me down into the pit. I held onto something but I lost my lightsaber. The Sith was going to kill me right then and there. If he had the opportunity to kill me he would have. But I jumped over his head and grabbed Qui-Gon's saber and fought a little more then hit him and he fell into the pit. It was so frightening. I ran to Qui, he was still there, barely. He made me promise to train Anakin. I said I would with or without the council's permission. Then he just died. I sat and cried for, oh, I guess and couple of hours until you came. He's gone Mary. I still can't believe it."
Mary turned to Qui-Gon's body and continued to sit on the floor next to him and began to talk to him like he was still there. After a while she stopped.
"People are probably wondering where we are. We should leave and go to the palace." Mary said.
"We can't leave Qui here." Obi-Wan mentioned. Mary thought then realized she still had a comlink that was linked to the queen. She reached into her pocket and pulled it out.
"Amidala?" "Yes Mary?' Was the reply. "I found Obi-Wan. I'm sorry to say that, um, Qui-Gon's dead. The Sith killed him. Um, Obi and I are next to the melting pit, we need someone to come and get Qui's body." Mary heard crying on the other end. "Ok, thanks for the news."
"She's sending someone." The pair waited until a Naboo guard arrived and they put the Jedi master's body on a gurney and carried it to an awaiting speeder. Mary and Obi-Wan got in the speeder and went to the throne room. The queen, her handmaidens, Panaka, and other Naboo officials retrieved from the camps along with Anakin met them. Everyone except Anakin knew about Qui-Gon's death. Mary and Obi pulled Anakin aside before anyone said anything.
Mary crouched over and said, "Anakin, we have some bad news. Qui-Gon fought the bad man and he was killed. Qui-Gon's dead." The boy's eyes widened then filled with tears and he cried but quickly tried to regain his composure. Obi-Wan kept the boy next to him when they listened to the crowd.
Amidala spoke first, "We are really sorry about the loss of Qui-Gon, he was a really great man." "Thank you, we will really miss him. We need to go and contact the Jedi council on Coruscant to report about the success and loss of our mission." Mary said leading Obi out the door to the quarters she was using. They left Anakin in the care of Amidala until they were through with the council.

----

In the room Mary rubbed her cheeks and wiped the remaining tears from here eyes in an attempt to look presentable. She then activated the viewscreen on the wall and got connected with Yoda on Coruscant. "See the mission was a success I do."
"Yes Master, the Federation forces have been driven out, well actually the droids were deactivated when Anakin got a hold of a starfighter and accidentally blew up the control ship." Obi-Wan said.
"Trouble I knew he was. But blown up the ship was wanted. So good he did."
"Also the Tattoine attacker came back. He was defiantly a Sith. He fought Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan slew the Sith. I hate to be the bearer of bad news," She took in a deep breath deciding to put it bluntly dispensing of the pleasantries, " but Qui-Gon's dead. The Sith killed him. There was nothing we could have done; he's gone Master Yoda. I'm sorry."
The elderly Jedi Master's ears twitched and he wiped something from his eyes. Qui-Gon had been his last apprentice, he was sorry to see him go this way; he hated apprentices dying before him. "Noble death he had I presume?"
"Yes, he fought the best he could and more. He died honorably." Obi-Wan said again choking back tears.
"When the funeral be?" "Well, we hadn't thought about that. I guess in two days. We'll cremate him." Mary told Yoda.
"Be there the council will. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine be there too I presume."
"Chancellor Palpatine?" Mary and Obi-Wan asked in unison with eyes wide. "Yes, voted in today he was. The chancellor he is."
"Alright, thanks for the news. We'll see you tomorrow." Mary said the screen blanking out. "I think I'm going to change out of this," Mary said sniffing her handmaiden battle dress, "It smells."
"Yah, I think I better change too. Um, I need to go find something to change into. I'll be back soon." Obi-Wan said. "I'll be here." Mary replied.

----

Mary spent a long time in the refresher to cleanse herself of battle grim and just to try to come to grips with her thoughts; she was once again without parents, or parental figures. But this time she had Obi-Wan, 'At least I have him, he's all I have.' She found her Jedi tunic and robe and put them on. She also reattached her lightsaber, she now felt complete on the outside but empty on the inside. . 'A Jedi outfit is much more comfortable than a handmaiden's is,' she thought, tying up her boots. Obi-Wan came back, "You look normal again."
"Thanks, I think. What are we going to do about Anakin? I know you said you would train him, but what about the council?"
"I'm going to talk to Master Yoda tomorrow."

Chapter 18

The next day was clean up day on Naboo. Broken windows began to be fixed, droids were taken away, people returned to their homes. It was also a day of mourning. To mourn the loss of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and to mourn the loss of every Gungan and Naboo person who died fighting. The Jedi council arrived, Master Yoda took Obi-Wan to a room in the palace to discuss what was to happen to him and young Skywalker.

----

"Well, what did he say?" Mary asked Obi-Wan when he returned from speaking to Yoda. "I've been knighted. I doubt I've ever been this happy and sad at the same time." He said jumping up and down then hugging Mary with a smile across his face. "In all seriousness, I have achieved knight status and Anakin is my padawan."
She was proud of him. "Qui-Gon would be happy right now, I'm happy for you." Mary said with another hug and kiss.

----

When the sky grew dark Naboo, Jedi, Gungan and other people all went to an open-air room near the Theed temple. A place where the lives of Naboo great were celebrated, today it was used for a Jedi Master. Obi-Wan and Mary said a few brief words each trying to sum up Qui-Gon, the man they each called Master. On the funeral pyre lay the body of Qui-Gon Jinn, after the former apprentices spoke someone lit the pyre and the body of the great Jedi began to slowly fade away and became smoke and ash.
Anakin tugged on Obi-Wan's sleeve, "What is to happen to me now?" "The council has granted me permission to train you. You will be a Jedi, I promise you. You will train at the Jedi temple on Coruscant and live with Mary and me." Anakin nodded as he returned his gaze to the flames in front of him.

----

The next day there was a parade to celebrate the liberation of Naboo; the city of Theed was abuzz with excitement of such a celebration. All except a small room in the Theed palace where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker had something important to do. Obi-Wan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small comlink, "Mary? Can you give me a hand in here?" Mary soon appeared at the door.
"Yes?" She said popping her head in the doorway. "Um, you know when a Jedi is knighted the master cuts off their padawans braid?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I know that." She responded. "Well, since I need to cut Anakin's hair to the standards of a padawans hair cut and he needs a braid. And I am supposed to weave in part of my braid I need my braid removed." "I see." Mary nodded.
"So, Qui-Gon isn't here can you cut my braid off for me?" He asked. "Sure. I'd be honored. Give me the scissors." Obi-Wan handed her a small pair of gleaming silver scissors. She neared his head and with one quick snip she cut off his braid. "Thank you." Obi-Wan said taking the braid from her hand.
Obi-Wan cut the braid again in one long and one small piece, he took the small piece and set it aside on a table. He took the long piece and put it in a small box. He again took the scissors and slowly began to cut Anakin's hair until it looked much like his. He then took a longer strand he left behind Anakin's ear and carefully wove his own smaller braid into Anakin's hair. It was official, Anakin was Obi-Wan's padawan.

----

The celebration was loud and colorful. There were Gungans riding massive Fambas and also Gungans on smaller Kaduu, there where groups of marching Naboo and all sorts of music of all kinds. At the front of the Theed palace the parade stopped and on the stairs stood the members of the Naboo court with Queen Amidalia and Captain Panaka and Boss Nass. There was also three Jedi, Mary, Obi-Wan and Anakin. Amidalia held out her hands to Boss Nass and handed him the globe of peace a clear round ball with energy beams coming from it. Boss Nass took the globe and held it above his head and the crowd cheered.

----

As all things must end it was time for the Jedi to leave. They said their good byes to the Naboo and boarded a Republic transport bound for Coruscant. After they arrived on Coruscant the Kenobi's and Anakin went to their quarters and settled in. They were glad to be home, but the quarters were different. They were lacking Qui-Gon.

----

A few days after returning home Mary was summoned to the council, alone. She entered the familiar room and bowed to the council members. "Glad to see you back we are. Sorry for loss of Master Jinn we are too." Yoda said. "Thank you. Why did you summon me?"
"Soon I am leaving the council to take my first padawan." Ki-Adi Mundi, the only knight on the council said. "And we have been searching for a replacement. We believe we have found our person. Mary, would you like my seat on the council?"
Mary was shocked, she took a minute to think then asked, "But what qualifications do I have? Why would you want me when there are hundreds of other Jedi out there?" She asked.
"You are a very skilled Jedi knight. You are talented in most areas, you are compassionate, you listen and you see the whole picture and you seem to indirectly see the future. You trust you gut. You could handle the job." Mace Windu said.
"In that case. I'll take it." Mary enthusiastically replied. "Good, you begin in one week." Adi Gallia said. Mary left the room and returned to her quarters.

----

"So, what did they want?" Obi-Wan asked, Anakin was in a class learning about Force use. "Oh, nothing. They just offered my Ki-Adi's position on the council." She replied coolly. "And I accepted. I'm on the Jedi council beginning in a week."
"That's 'oh nothing'? You're on the council?" Obi-Wan asked standing up with his eyes the size of small moons. "Yep." Mary replied. "The Jedi council?"
"Yes, why is that so hard to believe?" Mary inquired sitting down. "Oh, nothing. I am just surprised. That's all."
"Well I'm happy. Who knows what opportunities this may bring." Mary said flopping down on the overstuffed chair. "This is a dream come true for me, a seat on the council. Wow, now that's something really cool."
"I agree. This means you can maybe make sure I get some good missions with Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Don't push it Kenobi. And I'm a council member now you address me as Jedi Rodel-Kenobi." The pair burst into laughter. "I'll see what I can do. But no more easy negations for awhile, all right? I've lost enough friends that way."
"All right. That's fair enough. Now what?" "Well I start on the council, and you will train Anakin. We will also watch Chancellor Palpatine in the senate. I dunno about him. I've got a bad feeling about him."

Chapter 19

Five months later…
The door to the Council chambers opened slowly, Obi-Wan and his padawan, Anakin walked in knowing that they were about to be grilled for Anakin's latest 'adventure.' Council Member Mary Rodel-Kenobi sat straight up in her chair at sight of her husband leading in his padawan, she suppressed a smile.
"Good to see you again Obi-Wan, I do wish it were under better circumstances though." Mace Windu said glaring briefly at Anakin. Obi-Wan remembered coming to the room with his master, Qui-Gon Jinn many times in the past. He had been an interesting padawan he had been told on numerous occasions. He only wished that his wife wasn't on the council to help with the process of expanding on his wrong doings. He was well aware of the fact that his padawan, his responsibility, Anakin Skywalker had gotten into some major trouble.
It seems as if Anakin found a broken droid and repaired it. But it also seems that the droid was cleaning outside their quarters when I blew a circuit scorching the ceiling of the hallway where it exploded. He knew that the droid had been built and was aware of the fact that it was cleaning the hallway. He also guessed that with The Chosen One as his padawan that this would be the first of many times that he would be bringing his apprentice before the council.
Mace nodded slightly to Mary inviting her to begin with a question, "Anakin, would you mind telling the council, in your own words what happened to the droid and the ceiling?" She didn't want to be involved with getting her husband and his padawan in trouble but she took a vow that her being married would not interfere with her being a Jedi.
"Yes Mar…Master Rodel." Anakin began stumbling over using Mary's title. At home she insisted on his calling her Mary, but outside the home all knights are referred to as Master to padawans. "You see I found this droid down by a garbage chute at the base of the temple when I was walking one day so I decided to fix it up. I brought it back to my quarters and asked Master Obi-Wan if I could fix it, he said I could. So I repaired it and had it set to work on sweeping our hallway. I was working fine for a few days until it blew a circuit and made that the scorch marks."
"Knew that much we did, more we want to know. Why do it did you?" Master Yoda inquired. Anakin frowned, "Well, I have always loved to fix things and when I saw a broken droid I reminded me of my droid I made back on Tattoine. I miss fixing and rebuilding things."
Adi Gallia shot a glance to Mary from across the room and sent her a message, 'I wonder if there is such a thing as a memory wipe for padawans like there is for droids.' Mary again suppressed a smile. 'It probably wouldn't help, he'd find a way to fix the wiper so it wouldn't work' Mary responded. Adi smiled. She and Qui-Gon had been good friends; she had always also been a close friend of Mary despite their age differences.
"Hope it will not happen again, pay for repairing the ceiling you will." Master Yoda said. "Go you can."

Chapter 20

Mary was sitting on the floor in front of the window over looking the Coruscant skyline. It was dark out yet it seemed very bright from all the headlights on air taxis and other vehicles. Mary shivered as a breeze of cold air hit her from the overhead fan.
Obi-Wan looked at his wife and saw her shiver so he picked up the tunic in front of him and quietly crept over to where she was sitting. He carefully draped the tunic over her shoulders; she grabbed the soft edges of the tunic and drew it close to her body.
Obi-Wan felt a ripple in the Force as Mary turned to face him with a dreamy expression on her face. "This isn't yours, this is Qui-Gon's," Mary murmured. "Yes," Obi-Wan said. "How did you know?" He continued.
"It smelt differently then yours or mine, it's big. And Qui always had a different fabric. When I was his padawan he would always give me his old and worn tunics to sleep in or use as a smock for dirty work. I loved them, so soft and big." She reminisced slipping her arms into the sleeves and pulling it really tight around her. "I feel like a kid again oblivious to what the universe is really like. So young, to where I can be someone who easily can be lost in thought by just staring out a window." Mary continued beckoning to the skyline in front of her.
"I miss those days of innocence. I sometimes feel as if I know too much. I wish all the time to forget half the things I know, the universe has more evil then good. I really realized this after spending just a few months on the council."
"You miss Qui, don't you?" Obi-Wan asked sitting on the floor in front of Mary. Mary nodded slowly, "I do, but you've filled up most of my longings. You picked up a few Qui-Attributes. Like your stubbornness. I like that. But I just wish he was still here."
Mary felt the brush of a hand on her shoulder and a faint whisper, 'I'll always be here Mary.' She knew it must be her master watching out for her.
"I think I'll go to bed now, gotta go down to the exercise room with Anakin tomorrow morning." Obi said getting up and extending a hand to help Mary us. She declined, "I think I'll stay up for awhile longer and read some more." Grabbing the data pad a few feet away.

----

Mary heard a soft knock on the door; she rose from her place on the floor and answered the door. It was Adi Gallia. "Come in," Mary beckoned.
"Still sleep in Qui's old tunics?" Adi asked looking at the oversized garment over Mary's shoulders. "Kinda." Mary muttered, her cheeks blushing.
"Obi-Wan and Anakin asleep?" "Yah, I'm just reading." Mary answered. "I figured you would be, knowing you. Can we go to my quarters to speak? We'd stay here but I don't wanna wake anybody." "Sure," Mary said gabbing her robe from a wall hook.

----

The two council members left Mary's quarters and rode the turbolift to Adi's smaller quarters higher up in the temple. Adi opened the door and they entered each putting their robes on hooks by the door. Adi led Mary to a small couch in the center of the sparsely decorated room. They both sat down.
"Mary I've asked you up here to talk about Anakin, being that you know him second best to Obi-Wan. I have not shared my concerns with the other members of the council but I need to know everything you know about him, good or bad. I don't want to be drawing conclusions about him before I know everything there is so know. I feel something about this boy, and what I feel disturbs me. I don't know what to feel about him. Being that none of the council knows about this, like I said, I figured I should speak to you first." Adi said explaining the reason for the visit.
"Adi, I'll tell you something I have only told Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. When I first met Anakin I was deathly afraid of him. I sensed, as you have, something about him. As Yoda has said his future is very clouded. But I would be more then happy to share any information I have on the boy. I have learned to suppress most of my feeling about him and I have spoken to Obi about my fear before and it's a tense subject between us."
"Oh Mary, I don't want to involve you in anything that may upset the relationship between you and your husband." Adi interjected. "No, I have been wanting to talk to someone else about this for quite some time. It's nice to know that it's not just me that I'm not the only one who he scares. This will not come between Obi-Wan and myself, me knows my views on Anakin and we also vowed that Jedi matters will not come between us."
"I understand, I didn't know you felt that way, I'm glad too that I'm not the only one. I got this feeling the first time he came before the council wanting to be tested. When did you fist get the feeling of something else?" Adi inquired.
"The first moment Qui brought him on the queens transport." "Can you tell me the events of your meeting him?"
"Sure, Qui came to the ship to bring the new hyperdrive and he had to return the eeopie he borrowed to bring the parts out an he said he had some unfinished business. When he returned we saw him and a blond boy walking towards the ship so I left the window and then he exploded into the shop and ran to the cockpit. He told the pilot to fly low, so he did. I again looked out a window and saw Qui fighting the Sith. Then Qui jumped up onto the extended ramp and came aboard. Once Qui got on board we took off and I ran to se if he was okay. He had just finished introducing Anakin and Obi-Wan. He then introduced me and when I shook his hand it hit me really hard that there was something wrong with him." Mary explained.
"That's how it was when I met him, I shook his hand and that's when I realized it. Have you noticed anything weird while you've been staying with him?"
"Not really, except his fascination with electronics. He did something with our Holonet and now the speed is much faster. But he doesn't meditate much, he knows how. And he catches on to everything very quickly. But there is little wrong with any of that and I like the faster Holonet."
"But isn't his fascination with electronics what has gotten him in trouble on a few accounts?" Adi questioned her eyes narrowing to focus directly on Mary.
"Yes, and I mean to break that fascination as soon as possible…I fear the day the boy makes a lightsaber." Mary added with a determined far off look. Also a fear full chuckle at the thought of Anakin sprinting down the corridors of the temple with his saber ignited trying to find Obi-Wan to show off his news toy, as he would think it was. "What are the possibilities of Anakin and Obi-Wan getting a mission far away from Coruscant any time soon?" Mary mused.
"Very likely, I have been giving the thought much consideration and I have recently been approached with a mission that seems to suit the Master and apprentice. Far away from Coruscant."
Mary seemed excited with the thought of Anakin being out of her hair for a while. Even if it meant Obi being away too, but despite the fact that she loved the brat dearly she needed a reprieve from looking over Obi-Wan's shoulder to make sure Anakin doesn't' blow himself up, or anyone else for that matter. "How long would they be gone?"
"Who knows…a week, a few weeks." Adi paused as she witnessed the increasing smile on Mary's face. "You like the sound of this don't you?" Mary nodded vigorously. "Shall we discuss this tomorrow morning in council." Mary continued to nod. "Good night Mary, get some sleep." Adi said escorting Mary to the door.

----

Once outside Adi's door Mary slid down against the wall and whispered a quiet, "YES!" She continued back to her quarters quietly, careful not to wake anyone in her room when she arrived. Mary decided to sleep on the couch to Obi-Wan could sleep, she glanced at her chrono, and she had a few hours to rest. Sweet dreams be with me as I dream of a padawan free environment.
Although she was not usually a morning person Mary was up early and fully ready for her day when she even began hearing the sounds of padawan stirrings from the other room. She decided to bug Anakin this morning being in such a good mood as she was. His door cracked and the sleep-eyed munchkin trudged into the room rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Good Morning Anakin!" Mary said in a high pitched singsong voice that made Anakin produce a loud grunt. "Nice to see you too Mr. Grumpy." Mary mumbled.
"Hey Mary, please spare me the high pitched voices in the mornings. I'm as much of a morning person as you normally are. How would you like it if someone sang to you every morning?" Anakin grumbled. Mary smiled, "Welcome to my world. Qui-Gon used to torture me with it every morning, day after day. I actually miss that, but I know how annoying it can be after a few years. But at least I'm a better singer then Qui ever was."
"No, Qui was a better singer." Obi-Wan muttered as he stumbled away from the doorframe leaving his room behind him. "No, I am honey. You're just tone deaf so you can't tell the difference." Obi-Wan glared at his wife and let it pass, she seemed in to good a mood to disrupt the peace.
After breakfast Mary left her quarters and made the daily trek to the top of the massive Jedi Temple, from the windows of the council chambers the council members have the best view of Coruscant, you can witness the tallest buildings that the temple dwarfs. The door slid open and she took her seat in the circle. She was early, only a few of the Masters had arrived. Mary disliked being the only Knight on the council, she wasn't a Master because she hadn't taken a padawan…yet, she would take an apprentice in due time.
Mace Windu entered the chambers shortly after Mary did. When he entered Mary had been thinking about when she would take a padawan, she smiled when she had a flash of a memory from her own padawanship.
Mary was maybe 13 at the time and had a brief attention span when she was younger, she and Qui-Gon were talking to the council about their past mission. Qui was rambling on about it when Mary realized that when her chrono was at just the right angle she could reflect the sun onto the walls. With this new idea presented before her she decided to take the opportunity to try out something. Using her skills in telekinesis Mary adjusted her chrono enough so it reflected light on Mace Windu's shiny bald head, once the light spot was there she shifted the reflection more to a point where it was right in front of Master Yoda, who was listing attentively to Qui-Gon. She made she spot dance on the floor in front of Yoda and then bounce between his eyes. The diminutive green being began to twitch his eyes trying to fallow the mysterious beam of light, Mary took this opportunity to move the beam around in small circles on the floor to Yoda's head was going around in circles to fallow the pattern being presented. Soon Qui-Gon's speech was choppy as he was trying not to laugh and the other Masters too noticed the strange behavior of Yoda. Mary noticed the people staring at the oblivious Master, she moved her right hand over her chrono and the light disappeared and Yoda straightened up in his chair when he realized the other council members and Qui-Gon staring at him. His gaze drifted to Mary who was pretending not to notice the commotion and was staring at the patterns in the tile floor. "Padawan Rodel!" Master Yoda snapped. Mary's head shot up to look at him, "Yes Master!"
"Know anything about the spot of light, entranced me it did?" He asked his ears twitching with anticipation; Qui then looked sternly at his padawan. "Yes, Master. I reflected the light coming through the window onto my chrono and made it make patterns of the walls. Then I reflected the light off Master Windu's head and that was the light that I reflected towards you. I'm sorry, I was becoming board with the discussion so I began to zone out and I discovered the light beam idea."
Qui-Gon thought of laughing but he decided not to at such an inopportune moment, he would get a few good laughs out with Mary later. "Do you know why you did this and what a sign of this was?" Qui put his hand on Mary's shoulder urging her to speak. "I was not focusing on the present and therefore became easily distracted by the dark side. I used my ability of a Jedi, using telekinesis and my knowledge of science to fulfill my dark desires. I also humiliated an adult, and for that I am truly sorry. But I have learned greater insight of the Force through this shameful event, I have witnessed how the dark side seeps into everyday life and can use you through the smallest tasks."
Qui-Gon took a deep breath and exhaled he then said, "Yes, my young apprentice. You have learned the correct lesson from this experience." Yoda glared at young Mary and then let the smallest smile cross his face, "Yes, learned well from you mistakes you have. And personnel apology I accept for this incident. But clean help clean the cafeteria for 1 week you will. You may now go." Once outside the council chambers the master and apprentice buckled over in laughter from the thought of Yoda's eyes following the beam.

----

Mary closed her eyes and smiled when she finished the memory. Mace Windu saw Mary smile and asked her about it, "Knight Rodel, what are you so happy about?" She opened her eyes, "I was remembering the time I was in here with Qui-Gon and I got in trouble for reflecting light off your head and made Yoda look like a fool by having him watch the dancing light beam."
"I remember that too. You're the reason I let my hair grow back for awhile." Mace explained his hand rubbing his scalp. Mary covered her mouth with her hand and giggled, "I'm glad you shaved it back off, you looked really silly with hair. You were the butt of many padawan jokes." Mace frowned, "So that's why I had padawans run away from he giggling for the longest time. So it's all you fault?"
"I suppose so, but I've grown out of it." She replied making reflections on the floor in front of Mace. "Very funny, now don't go telling Anakin how to do that. With my getting older I doubt I could survive the laughter of watching Yoda go through that again." They both chuckled and abruptly stopped as the green critter himself hobbled into the room, he was the last council person to arrive.
Once Yoda was in hi chair he asked the other council members of they had any business in need of discussing. Adi spoke up, "I have had a mission presented to me and I think I have found someone good to go."
"Good, who you want to go?" Yoda inquired. "Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. The mission is to Thyferra to negotiate an argument between the bacta plantation owners and workers. I think it would be good for them as a first mission, it seems fairly easy."
"I think that seems like a good idea." Mace added. "Mary, do you see any problems with this mission that Kenobi or Skywalker may have?"
Mary thought and responded, "No, I think it would be a great idea for the to go. It seems like Obi-Wan has been itching to get off planet and Anakin could use the chance to explore more of the galaxy." "That's a good observation but I meant more of do you mind?"
"I don't think that maters if I mind, Obi-Wan and I said that our relationship would not interfere with our first responsibilities as Jedi. And it wouldn't mind having Anakin out of my way for a little while." She said.
"Do you not like Anakin?" Depa Billaba asked. "Oh no! I didn't mean to give that impression. He's just very high strung and ready for everything. He reminds me why I haven't taken a padawan yet."
"Speaking of which why haven't you taken a padawan yet?" Mace asked. "I've been thinking a lot about that recently and I feel as if it's not my time yet. I enjoy being on the council and the occasional mission on my own, like the undercover missions I have done in the past would be very difficult to pull off with another person hanging around. But if the perfect person was presented I would consider padawanship, I have sought meditation for answers and I believe that the Force is leading me away from taking an apprentice right now."
"Understand I do. No further explanation needed. Bring Kenobi and apprentice here now."

----
The council summoned Obi-Wan and Anakin to the chambers and once through the door Anakin, who seemed really nervous blurted out,
"Whatever happened I didn't do it this time!"
Mary grinned, "No Anakin. You haven't done anything that we know of. We called you in because we wish for you and Obi-Wan to go on a mission. You would be going to Thyferra, a planet that is a leading producer of bacta, to negotiate a treaty between the workers and the owners of a bacta plantation."
"Thank you, we accept the mission. When do we leave?" Obi-Wan asked. Being that it was Adi's idea she informed Obi-Wan and Anakin of the details concerning the mission, the gist of which told them that they would be leaving in 3 days and would return whenever the mission was over.

----

The council went on to discuss the happenings in the senate, it seems that the Trade Federation is under a lot of scrutiny for what happened on Naboo. While on the topic of Naboo Mary's mind was racing trying to remember all that she could about the entire mission. She spoke slowly, "What about the Sith?" The rest of the council was caught off guard by the sudden change of conversation. "What does that have to do with Naboo?" Plo Koon shot back.
"It has everything to do with Naboo! The Tattoine attacker, the man with the horns was the Sith! He returned to Naboo to kill Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon he succeeded in killing Qui-Gon Jinn! We haven't discussed what to do with this ever-growing problem. From what I have studied about the Sith there are always two," Mary began explaining holding up two fingers to emphasize her point. "There is a Mater and an apprentice, if one was killed then there must be another out there still alive, somewhere probably training another Sith." She took a deep breath, "Why would they appear now, after a thousand years why would they choose to come back now? I have a theory of why they may have come back…" Mary composed herself, she didn't want to divulge her theory now but she had already drawn herself into this mess. "As you know the problems in the senate have been growing in the past few years, and recently with the changing of chancellors I think the Sith must have an insider in the senate to help stir the turmoil. One reason you wanted me on the council was because you trusted my gut instinct and my gut is telling me that there is something bigger out there then we know about. In the next few years there are going to be big changes for the Republic, and for the Jedi order. I don't feel as if I can elaborate this any more that's all I can say."
The Jedi council was silent as they tried to comprehend what Mary had said, she was not the only concerned about the senate, and Mace Windu was especially concerned too. "Do you feel as if the current senate problems are directed at one particular person?" he asked.
"Yes, I believe a lot of it is from Chancellor Palpatine. I have not told you this before but he was the one who had the initial idea to get rid of Valorum." She felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she told of Palpatine's plan, yet another soon replaced it.
Yoda's eyes widened, "How do you know that?" "While I was undercover as a handmaiden for the queen I was in the room for many of her conversations and I was in on the conversation regarding Chancellor Valorum. Palpation suggested that new leadership was needed and he then proposed the idea of booting Valorum out. The queen protested saying that he was their strongest supporter and eventually Palpatine manipulated her and therefore she proposed the idea to the senate. It may have been inevitable that Valorum would leave but I just think it's a little eerie that the new chancellor came up with the idea to rid of the old one."
"Why didn't you tell us this sooner?" Adi asked. "I didn't think it as important until recently when I began to think of Palpatine again."
"Told us sooner you should have." Yoda said, and that ended the conversation concerning Naboo and Palpatine.
When Mary returned to her quarters, Anakin was flitting around very excitedly knowing that he would soon be going on his first mission. Mary found Obi-Wan in their room sitting on his bed sifting through a stack of holos. He wasn't surprised to see her enter the room; he had sensed her coming. "Did you know we would be given a mission?"
"Not until last night when Adi proposed the idea to me asking it I thought it was a good idea and if you and Anakin were ready for an actual mission." She replied her gaze shifting to the holo he had in his hand. He tossed it to her; she looked at the image and smiled, "Our weeding."
"Yep, I was looking for an extra pair of boots in the closet and I found them in a box…Why don't we keep them out of the box, like in the main room?" He asked her. "I dunno, after the wedding we were in Naboo and then we came back and had to adjust to not having Qui around and having Anakin around. I suppose we put them in the box and forgot about them, that's all." Mary replied sitting on the bed next to Obi-Wan slipping an arm around him.
"Why don't we put a few out so while your gone I can remember you? And when you get back we can remember that day." Mary offered lifting the box and sorting though the holos looking for the good ones. "I'd like that." Obi-Wan replied kissing Mary.
The Kenobi's searched the box and found the best holos of the wedding and some others Mary and Obi-Wan had thrown into the box, a picture of Mary getting her padawan braid cut off, a few older holos of Qui-Gon doing things with either padawan at various occasions. After that they proceeded to place the holos in various spots around their quarters, they also told Anakin a story about each of the holos. The young padawan seemed entranced by the stories of his master and his master's wife on all kinds of adventures all around the galaxy.
Obi-Wan and Anakin went on their mission and returned with a horrible stomach-bug from undercooked food on Thyferra. All was good on Coruscant, things continued as normal for a long time; there was peace in the Jedi Temple.

Chapter 21

11 years have passed…

"There was another assassin hit on a Jedi last night." Adi Gallia stated to Mary as they entered the hallway of the council chambers for another day of debating the future of the Jedi order. "Another? We lost three the night before in that explosion. This is getting awfully suspicious, I did some math and 17 Jedi have been killed on and off planet in the past 2 weeks. I don't think it's a coincidence anymore. I think Palpatine is behind it." Mary hypothesized. In the past 10 years or so Palpatine has been wreaking havoc in the senate, he has shown his hateful ways to non-humans, females, and Jedi.
"Something is wrong with Anakin, he's been going away for prolonged periods of time without Obi-Wan knowing where he is. He has also been disrespecting a lot of elders, including Obi-Wan and myself. I don't like this behavior…" Mary said sitting down on a bench outside the council chambers and beckoned Adi to join her, she sighed, "I'm afraid he is being tempted by the dark side, I think we've lost him."
Adi was silent as she mulled the situation over; she had also noticed the odd behavior of the slave turned Jedi. She had suspected usage of the dark side for awhile and presumed that Mary had noticed too. "I know, we need to tell the council."
"I will." Muttered Mary as she stood up and entered the chambers. Immediately she noticed only the presence of Mace Windu and Master Yoda, there must be something wrong with only them being present by this time of the morning.
Yoda hopped out of his chair and hobbled over to Mary, she knelt to be at almost eye level with the diminutive Jedi. "Master Rodel, sorry I am for your loss." Mary was puzzled and glanced to Adi, the Mace. She stood and walked to Mace, with a firm face and a steady voice she spoke, "What loss Mace?"
Yoda spun around the came towards Mary, "Know you do not?" Mary arched her eyebrows and her mouth gaped, "No! I have no idea what you're talking about."
Mace stepped forward and placed his hand on Mary's shoulder, "There was another killing this morning…It was Nai-Lee." Mary lost her balance she stumbled across the floor and plunked into her council seat. Nai-Lee's master had been killed 7 years previously and she still needed training so Mary left the council and took Nai-Lee on as her padawan for the remainder of her apprenticeship. She trained her for 5 years before she was knighted and Mary received the title of Master. Although she was not her Master for her entire time as a padawan Mary had developed a special relationship with her; they enjoyed each other's company and learned things from the other.
Mary wiped a stray tear from her face, "But how? I just saw her three days ago, she was fine." Her eyes were wide and puffy as she tried not to cry. Yoda came towards her, "Being sent off planet she was, destroyed her shuttle was on the way to orbital platform to meet transport. One of Palpatine's peoples special ships it was that shot her. Flew her own shuttle up she did, no other casualties were there."
"What does it matter if there were any other casualties, a promising young, energetic Jedi knight was shot down in cold blood this morning." Mary's eyes dropped and her expression faded away as she made a horrible realization, "It was me."
Mace frowned, "What do you mean it was you? You were here on the ground when it happened." Mary shook her head, "No, no. Palpatine wanted to get a former padawan of someone on the council, and I was the lucky one." Adi came to Mary and embraced her and muttered, "It's not your fault." Mary nodded, she knew it was her fault.
"No council there is today, off planet too many members are. Reconvene tomorrow we will." Yoda announced leaving the room with Mace not far behind him. Mary and Adi were silent as they thought. "Anakin!" Mary exclaimed startling Adi.
"Don't worry, we'll talk about him tomorrow." Adi reassured Mary. "Not that. It all makes sense now, he's paring up with Palpatine. The secret meetings, he told him she was going up, he had her killed…We've definitely lost him."

----

Mary stormed into her quarters in search of Obi-Wan; he was nowhere to be found as was his soon to be Sith padawan. She stomped to the holo recorder and ran her fingers through her hair, stood up straight and toggled the record switch. "Obi-Wan, Palpatine had Nai-Lee killed. I think Anakin was in on it, I'm going to find him. If you won't come to the realization that he's gone Sith Lord on you I'm gonna confront him. I love you, I'll be home soon." The light was soon blinking when she finished indicating there was a message.
Master Rodel jumped when the door opened revealing Anakin, "Hey, uhh, Mary would you come for a walk with me?" Putting her fears aside she agreed to come. They left the quarters and began to walk towards the gardens; Anakin was leading Mary though a maze of plant life before they came to where he wanted. It was where the dark Jedi had attacked Mary, it was where Obi-Wan had proposed, it was where another life changing event would take place.
They sat on the wall, Mary spoke, "You killed her." She put it very bluntly. "You are very smart Master Rodel, you know everything don't you? So you must have also figured out that I am hanging out with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine all the time too." Mary nodded in disbelief; it had only been a far-fetched guess.
"Well, being that your so smart you must know that Palpatine is a Sith Lord who plans to declare himself Emperor of the Republic and change it to the Empire? That he plans to exterminate the Jedi and a lot of aliens, you know humans are the future. So you must also have figured that if he is a Sith he must have an apprentice…" Mary's eyes bulged, it was him.
"Smart girl, I am Darth Vader, Sith Lord." Anakin rose and ignited a pure red lightsaber, newly constructed she knew. She glanced around and it clicked, He brought me here where I was almost killed to kill me now. I'm about to die.
"Come one Anakin, there are other ways. You don't need to do this." Anakin snarled and spat out, "Yes I do."
After words had been defeated Mary knew she had no other choice then to fight him, maybe just maybe she could win. She drew herself deep into the Force and ignited her saber. Anakin charged letting loose all his anger and gashed at the air about Mary's head, she parried and flipped over him and faced his back before he could turn. She may be older but she could still do a lot of good fighting. He turned and struck out to the side, deflected. He was really angry now.
With the dark side flowing though him Anakin began to slash at any slight move Mary made, he had no idea what he was doing. He soon composed himself with dark energies and was soon in touch with every move Mary made and could anticipate her every move, but Mary was also anticipating Anakin's moves. She knew that he was more agile then she was she hoped that he would make a mistake and she could stop him and live to tell the plans of Palpatine.
Over the heat of the battle Anakin still managed to insult his elder, "You and your powers are weak, just like Qui-Gon was when he fought Darth Maul. And I am just beginning to warm up." Though exhausted Mary continued to fend off any oncoming attack presented, for a short while that is.
Using telekinesis Anakin grabbed a large vine hanging behind Mary and he looped it around her waist, she could not reach it and he had a stronger Force grip on it then she did. Mary then realized that this was her end and sunk deeper into her meditation. She saw Anakin come at her and watched as he slipped his blade though her abdomen. What remained of the great Jedi Master Mary Rodel-Kenobi then faded away quickly before the blade made it all the way though her body. Anakin was shocked; he didn't believe Mary was that strong in the Force.

----

Obi-Wan had listened to his wife's recording and decided to meditate on the matter. He soon felt a great disturbance in the Force and buckled over in pain as he felt Mary's death, he didn't know it was her dying, he had never felt anything like that before. The closest pain like this was Qui-Gon's death but that was a sustained pain, not like this, this was fast and then it was over. He heard a voice, Obi-Wan! I'm sorry! He realized that it was Mary's voice and…she must be dead. He refused to believe that his beloved wife could be gone, I'm gone, I confronted Anakin, or shall I say Darth Vader. He's gone to the Dark Side, Palpatine's a Sith Lord too, the master. Palpatine also plans to declare himself Emperor and kill the Jedi. I didn't mean to leave you, but I'm gone now. Obi-Wan opened his eyes and saw a vision of Mary above him smiling, "But your dead, how can you be happy?" Qui's here, he says hi. My parents are here, Nai-Lee is here too. There is no pain, you'll come someday; we'll be together again. I'll try to speak to you if I can; it's kinda hard to master. Just remember that I love you and that Anakin must be stopped, he is the chosen one. There will be a time for you, you must endure many hardships, but good will come, wait it out. You will know your time. I love you. The vision vanished and Obi-Wan felt alone.
After realizing that there was no time to mourn his loss he ran to find Master Yoda. Obi-Wan skidded to a stop in front of the turbolift on his floor and waited impatiently for the lift to arrive. When the lift came to a halt on the floor Obi jumped in and keyed in the floor for where most council members lived. The lift slowed and the moment the doors slid open with a hiss of air being released he bolted from it and almost tripped over Master Yoda who was waiting for the lift.
"Kenobi!" The Master shrieked right before Obi-Wan ducked out of the way. Obi got on his knees before the shorter of the two and Yoda cut him off with a question, "Felt a disturbance in the Force I did, know what it is I do not. Felt it I presume you did too?"
"Yes…I felt it, and I know what it was." Obi-Wan began to explain. "How you know? Know I do not, know Masters Windu and Gallia do not."
Obi-Wan knew that he was not as strong in the Force as any of the council members mentioned but he knew what it was. "I know because, I saw her. I heard her." Master Yoda began to ask a question but Obi-Wan wouldn't allow it. "Mary's dead."
Yoda lost his balance and dropped his grimmer stick; he was unprepared for that announcement. "Sorry I am. But…how?" Master Yoda then knew he didn't need to know the answer to that.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan murmured. Yoda nodded, he figured that much, Worse off then I though was he. "There is more I need to tell you but I think I should tell the entire council at the same time."
"But, off-planet most are…No way get~~~"
"Get all on planet to the council chambers as soon as possible and those who are off planet within reach of a comm unit or Holonet get them online with the rest of the council. Its that easy, with that done you should get some council members together." An expatriated Obi-Wan instructed his elder. "Fine…be in chambers in 30 minutes."

----

Obi-Wan took a guess of where Anakin may have lead Mary too, he choose right. In the gardens he found Mary's lightsaber and he robe, the robe was in two pieces so it didn't take to much guessing on how she was killed. But there was no body, Obi-Wan's other guess was right, Mary had faded away quickly which was the explanation for the fast yell. He gathered the robe remains and her saber and went before the council.

----

Only Yoda, Mace, Adi and Depa were in the council chambers, but Obi-Wan did notice the presence of 7 view screens, which meant that all but one council member was present. He walked to his wife's empty chair and placed her things in the seat and kissed the back of the chair.
He then took his place in the center of the council room, a place he'd been so many times before, but never had he felt so alone. He had either appeared there with Qui-Gon to receive a mission or a scolding, or with his own padawan, or recently he'd been there and he'd seen his wife's smiling face. Now he was truly alone, no master no padawan, no wife.
"Masters, most of you must have felt a disturbance in the Force recently and I have come to tell you what it was…Master Rodel took it upon herself to confront my padawan, Anakin Skywalker, and Anakin killed her. I know this because she came to me after he death and told me that she had confronted Anakin and he had told her that he had gone to the Dark Side. He is no longer Anakin; he is Darth Vader, Sith Lord. Palpatine is his master, also a Sith lord. Palpatine also plans to kill the Jedi," There was a flood of whispers in the chambers of the all power, all knowing Jedi council. "I know this may seem impossible but look at what he's done so far, look at the numbers of Jedi killed recently. He is going to declare himself Emperor and the Republic as we know it will be over, it will be Emperor Palpatine's new order. This is our future, let us deal with it as we must."
"How sure of this are you?" Depa asked. "Did Mary ever lie to you? I believe her, you must believe me…Or we will all suffer Mary's fate." Obi-Wan assured Depa.
"Thank you Obi-Wan. We are all sorry about Mary, and Anakin. Will there be any sort of ceremony for Mary?" Adi asked a grief stricken Obi-Wan who obviously hadn't thought about this next step.
"Uhh, No. There was no body, she faded away. Also I know that given the circumstances of a pending galactic crisis Mary wouldn't want anything big. I can deal with it. But thank you."
"That is the way she would want it. Thank you, you may go." Mace instructed Obi-Wan. "Yah, can you set the cameras on all the doors to look for Anakin and if her enters the temple have me notified immediately?"
"Sure," Adi said. Obi-Wan gathered Mary's things from where he put them in her chair and left the council chambers. He wondered what he should do next so he went to find Mary's friend Megha.

----

He entered outside Coruscant cautiously on foot and set out for the dress shop owned by Megha. He found the shop and entered it quickly seeing Megha bent over a hideous purple polka dotted dress with four arms. Obi-Wan cleared his throat; Megha jumped dropping the dress on a desk. "How may I help…" She began before she turned around, she turned, "Oh, hi Obi-Wan. How's life treating you?"
Bad choice of words Megha, Obi-Wan thought. "I need to talk to you." "What's wrong?" The dressmaker asked suddenly scared of the answer and sat back down. "I don't know any better way to tell you this but…. Mary is dead. Anakin killed her, they apparently fought and she didn't feel any pain, she faded away so fast."
Megha's eyes swelled up with tears, she wiped them away. "I'm sorry, I bet you've heard that a few times already. Is there going to be a service?"
"That's what I want to talk to you about. The entire temple is in turmoil and there is no body. But I am going to burn her robe, just so I have some closure. I wanted to find you being that you were a very close friend, so you can come with me."
"I would be honored Obi-Wan. Lets go." The dressmaker and the Jedi entered the temple and went on the search for a place to burn the robe. They found a room with a pry set up especially for ceremonies for the death of Jedi. Obi-Wan placed the robe on the pry and lit it.
"I don't know anything about Jedi tradition Obi-Wan but what about her lightsaber?" Megha asked glancing at the metal cylinder in Obi-Wan's hand. He looked at it de hadn't realized he was holding it. His gaze shifted to his own lightsaber, the one that had been Qui-Gon's. He had never made another saber; he unhooked Qui's saber from his belt and looked it for a few moments. He then lifted it into the air using telekinesis and lowered it into the fire and he went to a nearby shelf and grabbed a jar off of it. He then opened the jar's lid and lowered it into the fire unto the saber.
Megha was puzzled, so Obi-Wan explained, "Lightsabers are made so they are very difficult to destroy, so we have a special mixture that can eat away the casing and then the insides will explode. It's the best way for something like this." As he looked deep into the fire he saw a small explosion when Qui-Gon's saber exploded.
Obi-Wan took Mary's saber from his hand and hooked it to his belt, To remember you by he said to himself hoping Mary would hear. You wouldn't have forgotten anyway, it's what I wanted. More use for you then me, Obi heard Mary's spirit whisper from the flames.

----

Megha returned to her shop and Obi-Wan returned to his empty quarters and changed the lock to the door, incase Anakin returned. He glanced around the empty living room and saw the Holo recorder and played the message again, he saw the holos placed around the room. Pictures of happier times, the times coming would be hard, no doubt about it. But Obi-Wan Kenobi would survive, he had endured pains, we would endure more. He would be a key player in the end of the Republic; the Empire and his memory would help inspire the leaders of the New Republic.

The End

Mary Baugh-2000

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