The Jedi Temple. On the outside it was just another building on the planet-wide Coruscant skyline, but on the inside it was truly one of a kind. Tens of thousands of years of tradition where beings of all planets could come and study not only the Force, but life. But as a young padawan not all of this has sunk in. To a young Jedi, this is Ground Zero. Headquarters of a powerful army. Nothing seems more appropriate for the times.
Runen Lachet, a young padawan, was wandering the halls of this great place with his friend, Juno Zebaris.
"That had to be THE duel of the century!" said Juno.
"Anakin did do well to disarm Eeth Koth but Koth was unfocused and Anakin, well, Anakin looked and felt a little angry. Why thought?" Runen pondered.
"Well his mother of course." Juno replied.
"I suppose all in all it was a good duel," admitted Runen.
"Well Rune, I have to run down to the library and study for my politics report titled: "How to prevent war with the Seperatists." If you ask me that's like asking, "How do you stop a supernova with a spoon?" well anyway I gotta run. See you around."
Runen laughed and said, "May the Force be with you."
Runen stood there for a moment and thought, "War is inevitable, and the Jedi will be in the thick of it. I better go find Master Sern and ask if we can spar." And with that, he was gone.
Sweat stung like tiny, fine scratches on his eyes. An overhead slice loomed towards his head. Instead of blocking it, Runen rolled off to the side as the green blade landed with a hiss on the ground. Runen stood in a defensive position. His blue blade swayed right and left as he struggled to hold the saber. Master Takeo Sern swung at Runen's leg, and as Runen came down to block the strike, Sern's blade came up and hit Runen's shoulder.
"Sith spit," Runen cursed under his breath.
"Stay calm, padawan. I rushed you furiously for the first 30 seconds and you held me off. I am proud of you."
"Thank you master, but I only lasted a little more than a minute. If there is to be a war, that war will be furious and far longer than a minute. How do I focus and remain calm and strong during battle?" inquired Runen.
"Follow me young Padawan," ordered Takeo. Both of them changed the settings from their lightsabers from "training" to "combat" and walked from the training arena to Master Sern's room.
"When I was a young boy on Correlia," said Master Sern as he sat meditation style, " a Rodian chased me once, because he thought I stole something I did not. He was going to kill me for it too. I was scared. I ran into an alley, then crawled into a dumpster. All of a sudden I felt a wave of calm. I felt the force for the first time and trusted it to protect me. Shortly after, a Jedi named Kane Cleborn found me, and took me to the temple. Trust in the force Padawan, and you'll do fine."
"Thank you Master. If you'll excuse me I'd like to meditate by myself," Runen requested.
Master Sern dismissed him with a wave, and Runen bowed, and left.
Runen meditated long and hard that night. The force surrounded him and embraced him. He saw a wave of white rush over a shade of black and then turn black itself. In the dark he saw Anakin. Then he saw Anakin's face start to turn black. His teeth turned into long, skinny, well, teeth, he guessed. His eyes turned all black and soulless. Runen opened his eyes. Juno was standing at his door.
"Hey Rune, want to spar? I want to get good and tired before bed."
"That's a laugh. You want to get better to challenge Skywalker. But sure, let's go."
Juno and Runen walked down to the training arena. Runen looked outside as yellows mixed with reds as the sun set and night fell on Coruscant. When Runen and Juno arrived Obi-Wan and Anakin were there also. They were both very good. Their blue blades seemed to move as fluidly as water. Then their blades clashed, as if they were ice.
Runen and Juno walked to the other side, took out their sabers, set them to "training" and took their positions.
Runen opened himself to the force and blocked Juno's first strike to his side. He then moved his saber in a wide arc over his head and it clashed with Juno's waiting golden blade. Using the force, he did a backflip and waited for Juno to attack. Juno sliced furiously, almost with rage at Runen's body but Runen easily fought off all the blows. As Juno came down for a head chop, Runen turned and pivoted on his left foot and struck Juno on the back.
Juno collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. Runen was immediately worried and at his side.
"Don't worry Rune, I'm just tired, no, exhausted. You blocked everything I threw at you for 30 minutes and you didn't break a sweat. I'm done for the day. Good job Rune."
"Thanks June. Maybe with some practice you can make it into the Bear Clan."
They both laughed as Runen helped Juno up. Then they both went to bed.
Runen had another vision that night. A brief one. He saw one white armor clad warrior. He had an almost evil but expressionless helmet on. Then he split into two. Then four. They kept multiplying, and as the vision paned farther and farther from the army he saw two old worn hands holding the army in the palm of one of his hands. He then looked over at the other hand, and in it was the galaxy. He then looked up but before he could see a face, Juno woke him.
"Hey man. Time for breakfast," Juno said.
Runen groaned then said, "OK give me a minute."
A few minutes later they were both walking to the lunch hall when Runen caught the eye of Jerme Perdue. She was another Padawan and from Naboo. She was also the most beautiful person and being on Coruscant according to Runen.
"June I hope they get rid of that stupid "Jedi can't marry" rule. Think about the positives. Number one we won't have to repress those feelings so we won't be angry. Number two, if two Jedi were married they'd be so connected they could defend off any attack and be more with the force. Number three if two Jedi's had a kid that child would be a very powerful Jedi," Runen explained.
"Number four you could be with Jerme. But I know how you feel Rune. It is a dumb rule and maybe some day some one will change it but not now and not us and I'm starving so let's eat!" a famished Juno pleaded.
Runen and Juno got their food and sat at a table together. After a few minutes Juno spoke.
"That Anakin sure is a crowd drawer."
Runen looked around as he saw the vast majority of the Padawan were staring at Anakin as he walked into the hall.
"Well I imagine that that's the kind of attention you get when you are expected "to bring balance to the force," Runen pointed out.
"I know but he seems so mad at something all the time. I hope he's not mad at the Jedi. There's barley any one that can beat him with a lightsaber."
"Don't be ridiculous," said Runen. "Why would he be mad at the order?"
"I suppose, and hope your right," Juno said.
When Runen and Juno finished and left the hall, Juno had to go see his master and Runen wanted to go to the library and look up information on Force-dreams. They parted and Runen went to the library.
"Hey Runen," someone said behind him as he walked down the hall.
He swung around, his stomach dropped. His heart sped up. He forgot every word in the Basic language but managed to squeeze "Hey Jerme" out.
"I was wondering if you could spare a minute to talk?" requested Jerme.
"Yes," gasped Runen.
"Now if I can only talk I'll be all right," thought Runen.
They walked to a balcony overlooking the city and Jerme spoke.
"Runen, I don't know how to say this but, I like you. I like you a lot. I've even meditated on it. The Force even seems to be telling me to be with you. "
Runen looked deep into her soft brown eyes and said, "I like you too but how are we going to see each other?"
"Just be with me. Walk around with me like you and Juno do, and sometimes, like now, we will be alone," whispered Jerme.
"OK. This probably won't work though," doubted Runen.
"Where there's the force, there's a way," replied Jerme.
They walked back inside the temple, Runen by now had completely forgotten about the library. They headed towards Jerme's room where he dropped her off and proceeded to Master Sern's chambers.
"Master, why is the force telling me one thing and my heart telling me another?" inquired Runen.
"Is it the force or the rules young padawan? Make your force and hour heart become one and the force will give what the heart needs," Master Sern said.
"But what if what my heart wants is illegal? Is the force right?"
"It is not what your heart wants. It's what your heart needs. A jedi's life is a life of sacrifice. The sooner you learn that Runen, the better off you will be.
"Thank you Master." And with that, Runen left.
Runen rushed out to find Jerme but instead Ran into Juno.
"Hey Rune what's the hurry?" asked Juno
"Juno don't tell anyone but Jerme and I are seeing each other and she's probably going to be hanging out with us a lot so please just accept it OK?" begged Runen.
Juno looked disappointed but like a true friend he agreed.
"OK Rune, but if you two get 'romantic' while I'm with you, forget it."
"Thanks June. You're the best."
"I know."
Runen and Juno caught up with Jerme for lunch.
"Well what should we do this afternoon?" asked Runen.
"You and me are going to spar a bit. I want a rematch," Juno said.
"Is it all right if I come? I might learn a thing or two," said Jerme.
"OK but don't interrupt anything," Juno demanded.
They all got up and left and went to the training arena. Anakin was there fighting at least ten training remotes. He deactivated his saber and shouted at them.
"Well if it isn't Rune and June. Who else is that? Jerme? Oh so June is the 5th wheel now. June was always 5th. Especially at dueling."
Juno stopped dead in his tracks. Anakin and Juno had been enemies ever since the first day Anakin had arrived. Juno was complaining about how he never even saw his own mother, and Anakin shot back at least he didn't have to love her then leave her. Master Yoda quickly diffused the situation but the bad blood has remained ever since."
"Stop standing there June and fight me. It ends today. We'll see who's the better Jedi," taunted Anakin.
Juno turned around and said, "if you get hurt Anakin your mother won't be here to help you."
Anakin immediately lit his blue blade and ran at Juno. Juno followed suit. The blue and gold sabers struck with such force the whole arena stopped and stared. Both were fighting out of pure anger. Heavy blows were blocked and blocked again. Juno struck at the side of Anakin's head, Anakin parried and struck at Juno's side. Juno blocked the saber and thrust so hard he screamed and Anakin's saber went flying. Anakin then force pushed Juno down, back flipped, force attracted his saber, activated it and landed. He strode to Juno's unconscious body and put the point of his blade at Juno's neck. No one was sure if it was on the "kill" setting, but Runen wasn't' going to wait to find out. He took out his lightsaber. But before he could activate it someone yelled, "ANAKIN!"
It was Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"What in the blazes are you doing? Turn off that saber now and get to my ship. We are going to protect Padme."
Anakin's face turned from rage to straight excited, if not nervous, as he ran out the door Obi-Wan had entered.
"Runen I apologize I can't stay and help Juno but my business is of upmost importance," Obi-Wan apologized and left.
Runen rushed to Juno's body, as did Jerme.
"Wake up pal. Come on June, get up you're making a scene," said Runen.
Juno opened his eyes slowly.
"I beat him. I disarmed him. He lost. Where is he?" mumbled Juno.
"Shhh Juno. We need to get you to the infirmary," said Jerme in the most soothing voice, it almost made Juno better already.
That night, after Runen and Jerme had taken Juno to the infirmary for the night, Runen and Jerme sat under the stars on a balcony.
"The way I see it is that we as Jedi are chosen by the Force to protect those who don't' have our gift," Jerme said.
"Yes, but why doesn't the Force share itself with everyone? I'm sure there are billions of beings who haven't even heard of the Force," Runen replied.
"To me, the forces isn't so much as a religion but as a way of life. Remember Runen everything happens for a reason."
"You're so...brilliant. And beautiful. I don't see why all guys like Padme Amidala, they have an even better looking Nabooian right here."
The two stared into each other's eyes. They knew they shouldn't. But love prevailed. They kissed a kiss that had not been shared between Jedi in a long time. When they were done they said nothing. Just looked at each other the way two lovers do. Runen laid back-down on a sofa and Jerme cuddled on top of him. They both stared into each other's eyes until they fell asleep.
Something ripped Runen from his peaceful slumber. Jerme was still curled up on top of him. It was still dark. Maybe no one had seen them. He woke Jerme up and they both ran to their rooms. Just as Runen shut his door and turned on his light, Master Sern was standing there.
"Runen you must terminate whatever you have with this girl. Love is not for Jedi. We have been given the Force and that is enough. Now if it isn't, well, I'd hate to see you expelled from the order but that's where it will lead to. Please think before you respond," Master Sern said.
"Listen Master, I know you're Trandoshan and in your culture you just mate. As humans Jerme and I feel love for each other. It's human nature."
"It's not the Jedi way. Think about what you are doing my padawan. Jerme is being told the same thing by her master. Now get some sleep. Goodnight."
With that, Takeo Sern left.
Runen went to bed and laid there thinking about how Jerme was and tried reaching out to her with the Force. He couldn't so he decided to get some sleep.
"Rune! WAKE UP MAN! It's nearly lunch time. Come on," Juno said.
"Fine. Fine. Wait five minutes while I get ready."
When Runen and Juno arrived at the lunch hall they were greeted immediately by Jerme.
"Hey Runen. Hey Juno, how's that concussion?"
"No sparing for a week," lamented Juno.
"Runen can I talk with you in private?" asked Jerme.
"Sure."
As Runen and Jerme walked down the halls of the temple, Jerme talked.
"She just doesn't understand love Runen. Can Master Sern?"
"No."
"If they did they wouldn't try to stop it but encourage it. I know it's only been a few days Runen but I can feel it in the Force. You and I were meant to be."
With that Runen held her hand. Many Jedi stopped and stared. Runen was fully aware of what he was doing. It's time he stand up for what he believes in. They walked to the nearest balcony, way from all the eyes piercing and judging them.
"I'm sorry Jerme but I don't care who knows. I love you."
They proceeded to kiss as Master Yoda walked onto the balcony. He cleared his throat and Jerme and Runen went back into the hall. Runen wasn't in the mood for a lecture.
A week later Runen and Jerme were walking down the halls when Juno came sprinting towards them.
"Obi...captured..." gasped Juno.
"Get your breath June then talk," said Runen.
"OK." Juno said as he breathed deep.
"Obi Wan has been captured on Geonosis. The council can't reach Anakin or Padme. He is or was supposed to be protecting her. The council has decided to free Obi-Wan and expects low casualties because Geonosins are notoriously cowards. You better talk to Master Sern before he signs you up."
Runen kissed Jerme on the cheek then sprinted to Master Sern's chambers.
"Master...."
Master Sern lifted an arm to silence his padawan.
"Runen you are gifted. You are more in touch with the force than many padawans your age.
Runen thought about shouting back that he didn't even know his age but he held his tongue.
"Runen consider this a great honor. You will be fighting side by side with the greatest Jedi the galaxy has ever seen."
"But master I have learned so much these past couple of days. I've learned Jedi aren't' just soldiers for the Republic, we have feelings, wants, needs just like everyone else. I've learned that being a Jedi is a way of life. Sacrifice is necessary, but so is love," Runen said.
"Runen, you are my padawan. I'm not happy that you are going into battle either. But the Jedi, no, the Republic needs you. It's time you learn to be a Jedi."
The evening before Runen would be shipped off to Geonosis, he was saying his farewell to Juno, and then he'd see Jerme.
"Man that's the way the galaxy works. Half the order volunteers and the council cut it down to only like, what, a hundred? And then you still get picked."
"Tell me about it June. I can't fight it now. I have to be a Jedi. All my training comes down to this. This is farewell my friend. I'll see you soon."
They embraced and then Runen sought out for Jerme. He took a de tour first. He'd never really looked at the Jedi Temple. As he walked he noticed the calm of the blues, the pureness of the white and the strength of gold. It was quite a site to behold. Long elegant hallways, beautifully articulated ceilings, and the peacefulness of it all. He slowly walked out on the balcony where a teary-eyed Jerme waited.
"Jerme, please don't cry. This is just a taste of the future. Once we become full Jedi we will be doing this all the time."
"But," said Jerme between sobs, " there might not be a future..."
"Jerme don't talk like that. Low casualties are expected. Geonosins are not warriors. Now stop worrying and kiss me."
He whipped her tears away and touched her chin, brought it up and kissed her. They held that kiss long into the night, under Coruscant's bright, starry lights.
The next morning, Runen was loaded on to one of several transports. Before he knew it they were in hyperspace. He groggily looked at the Jedi around him. Some were sleeping. Others were talking excitedly about the action to come, while others, like him, were about sick to their stomachs with fear. He noticed a lot of the Jedi, half or more, were his age. About halfway through the trip they all sat as Master Kit Fisto explained they would enter at the base of the arena, then go out and free Obi-Wan from his pillar. And destroy any resistance to or from his escape.
Runen and about 50 other Jedi were waiting for the signal at the base of the arena. They stood on the rough red soil and waited. It was hot. His black robes clung to his sweating body. They stood at the gate, may ready to fight, others ready to throw up.
Runen noticed two other prisoners. One was Anakin and the other was a beautiful woman with black hair who reminded Runen of Jerme. Jerme. He would see her soon. Then came the signal. All the Jedi on the upper levels ignited their sabers as Geonosins flew into the dusty yellow sky.
Kit Fisto ignited his saber and ran out to save the prisoners.
They all ignited their lightsabers and ran out behind him. They were met by hundreds of battle droids. A few of the younger Jedi stopped with fear and were immediately cut down as blood red blaster bolts slammed into their bodies with a loud thud. Runen kept up his guard as he deflected a few blaster bolts.
Battle droids definitely weren't expected. The casualty list would be high when they returned. Runen fought to stay off of it.
Runen deflected a bolt into the chest of another droid. He flipped, landed beside two battle droids, and chopped them in half. Runen spun around, blocked another bolt, and stabbed what appeared to be a battle droid, but much larger, in the chest. He looked over at a group of Jedi making a stand at a pillar. Most of them young and needed numbers of themselves to defend each other.
He ran over there only to see a green plasma ball slam into it and explode. All those Jedi were dead.
He spun around and saw more droids coming out. And more Jedi dying. He attacked and behead a droid, then saw a green ball heading straight for him. He barley managed to get his feet in the air when it exploded beneath him.
He shot up high into the air and breathed in dust, dirt and smoke. Of what he tried to breathe anyway.
He landed flat on his back. The force had cushioned his fall. He stared up into the bright sky as he saw blaster bolts fly over head. He saw blood running into his eyes. He tried to lift up his right arm to swipe the blood away. Then he realized he had no right arm. Only a bloody stump. As he struggled to breathe Runen felt the air around him turn cold. He could taste hot blood in his dry mouth. He was afraid. The blood was all over him. He fought back tears of pain and fear. Everything was going dark. His last thought was of why he had paid his life for this, and slowly gave himself to the Force.