The Last Sith

This story takes place about 1,000 years before the events of The Phantom Menace.   This is one of those rare tales featuring Mara as human and not a vampire. The reason for this is that even I wasn't willing to work such a creature into the Star Wars universe, but did manage to give her great power and agelessness, and not by getting her blood sucked out. Read on to find out how that was accomplished.  But first, Mara is cast here as a padawan to a Jedi master and is young and inexperienced.  Note that I have never read a single Star Wars novel that was not simply an adaptation of the movies.  As such, whatever "facts" there are about the Jedi, the Sith, or technology of that time are unknown to me. After all, my purpose of these stories is to write Mara Stories, not contribute a meticulously researched and absolutely error-free bit of continuity for Star Wars purists to read and tear apart line by line.  For instance, whoever the "real" Last Sith was before they went underground, I don't know and I don't care.  This is not to say that I know nothing about Star Wars and think that wookiees and ewoks are the same species.  On the contrary, the first film (known as "A New Hope" to the die-hard fans) is my favorite movie of all time.  I had every line of dialogue memorized at one time, and could easily do so again.

So in advance I beg forgiveness of the constipated purists (thank you Ian McKellen for that splendid term!) who know the "true story" of the final war between the Jedi and the Sith before the Sith reduced their ranks to "two, always two - a master and an apprentice."  For storytelling purposes, I kept certain technologies common to the Star Wars universe, such as faster-than-light travel and lightsabers, because how can you write a story about Jedi without lightsabers?  I left out droid technology and holograms, however, although there may be robots appearing, albeit minus artificial intelligence.  So no feisty R2 units or fussy protocol droids in sight, thank you.  I also flat-out made up certain Jedi traditions and rituals and played around with what other neat things the Force could be used for as I saw fit.  I'd like to think that everything that happens "makes sense" to die-hard Warsies within the context of the story.

This story actually does span over a thousand years, since as I said, I found a way to make Mara ageless.  So she was not only there to fight in the War of the Sith, but ends up having more than a passing familiarity with certain Jedi and padawan known to us thanks to the movies.

Oh, and before we begin, I have to do the disclaimers:  Mara McCuniff is a a copyrighted character of Traci Briery.   Star Wars, Jedi, Sith, Yavin, Dantooine, Coruscant, Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu, et al, are copyrighted characters and terms owned by George Lucas, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, and whoever else owns a piece of the pie.  I ain't gettin' no money from this, folks.

Jedi Master Jeel Kumba arrives (Part Two)

There was no breeze tonight, but it was cool, with wispy clouds catching the last of the sunlight as night drew near. Mara had not watched a sunset in a long time, but since the last of her chores tonight were accomplished outside, she paused to take in this most glorious painting in the sky. As a child she used to imagine herself flying to the multicoloured clouds and scooping up the different colours and mixing them to see what they would become. Just a childhood dream, of course. Her master had explained to her long ago all about light and reflections and prisms and the tricks they could play on the eye. And one must never rely too much on the eyes, for they were the most easily tricked of the senses.

Her chores completed, she put away her things and went inside to prepare dinner for her master and herself. Her master, Orn Taga, was already in the area set aside for eating in their small domicile in one of many wooded areas of Zeelan 4. In silence Mara went to her task of preparing a stew of vegetables typical of the area – chuppa, giff root, andinia, and so on. Master Orn only allowed for meat once a week, since meat was not cheap, and their financial resources were not vast.

Master Orn was seated at his usual spot. Mara set down his food first, then her own, and seated herself.

"We give thanks to the Force for providing for us," Master Orn intoned solemnly, his deep voice all but booming in spite of speaking in what were for him, low tones.

"We give thanks to the Force," Mara repeated, and they began their meal. She would also be responsible for cleaning up afterwards, but this was not something she considered unfair. The lessons, the chores, the labour for her master – these were all part of the responsibilities of the padawan to his or her master. Orn had lived the same way until he, too, became a Jedi Knight, and then a Jedi Master. When he took Mara as his padawan so many years ago, he only continued the tradition. And tradition was very important to him. He enforced every tradition and custom of the Jedi, ancient or obscure. To Orn, serving the Force as a Jedi was the greatest calling to which any creature in all the galaxy could aspire. He had tried over the years to instill this sense of pride to his padawan, and Mara tried with all her skill and conduct to serve him and the Force well, but she always seemed to fall just short. Master Orn was very sparse with praise and ample in lessons and criticisms, but never in anger. Anger was the beginning of the path to the Dark Side.

"Tomorrow," said Master Orn after dinner had been cleared, "Just after awakening in the morning, you will meditate for an hour on the greater Force."

"Yes, master," said Mara. "May I venture to ask if you have sensed a disturbance? Something I, too, should feel?"

"This is why you will meditate," he answered. "So that you need not ask these questions. But for now, your lessons have ended."

"Thank you, master," she said. "I would ask permission, then, to walk to the clearing and take in the night air."

"You may," he said. "I will be in my study."

Mara stood and bowed her head to Master Orn, then turned to leave.

"Mara," he called out, and she stopped and turned around to face him.

"Yes, master?"

"I… know that you’re wondering when I will ask the Council to let you take your trials," he said. "You are almost of age to do this. You are very strong with the living Force. Perhaps stronger than in any other padawan I have seen. This can serve you in many ways. As an ambassador. A warrior. In many ways, but you have never truly grasped the greater Force. This is why I’ve been having you meditate more, so you will have a better understanding of your own destiny."

"Of course, master," she said. "I understand."

"The Force is always trying to speak to us," he continued. "Whispering to us about our own destiny, about others’. About the future. You must learn to hear it, Mara."

"Yes, master."

"Does this make you angry?"

"…Angry?"

"That you wish to take the trials, but I will not allow it," he said. Master Orn had said that her lessons for that night had ended, but they never did. Every moment with him was a test of some kind.

"No, master," she said. "It is not my place to decide if I’m ready. Your judgment is greater than mine in such matters."

"Don’t be too sure of the infallibility of a Jedi," he said. "Even a Jedi Master. My concern was that you might be harbouring ill feelings about the delay. Anger must never be allowed to grow and seize control of the heart."

"No, never," she said.

"You may go."

"Thank you, master," she said, bowing quickly before leaving the domicile. She stepped outside into the cool night air, taking in the smells of the forest. A swarm of nightwings were already buzzing around their evening meal of sap from a fallen thryxia tree. She walked past them and kept them at bay with a small "push" around herself that kept such insects off her person.

After reaching the clearing, Mara removed her boots and sat on the large rock there that overlooked a stream. Perfect for dangling one’s feet into the water. The cold tickled at her toes for just a moment, and then she let the rest of her feet into the water. She closed her eyes and took slow, deep breaths of the forest air and listened to the music of the woods. She could identify every creature by the sounds they made, and some even by the sounds they made when moving along the ground or the trees or the rocks or the air. Two her right was the mournful cry of the jinga bird signalling the beginning of nightfall. Two her left, chitters trying to scamper silently in the underbrush, but failing. In front, a marlet dug up roots, and behind, a mated pair of kacks cooed to each other quietly. There were many more sounds, and she knew them all.

It seemed strange to Mara that, of all times, the greater Force never spoke to her here, when her senses were at their most acute on such nights as this. She would detect even the subtlest sign from the Force, and yet it so rarely spoke to her, and even rarer to glimpse something significant. The last vision she recalled was of herself arguing with a shopkeep in town. Hardly a scene that spoke of destiny. She often wondered if the Force wanted her to know her destiny. Was something being hidden? Something too terrible to contemplate? This went against what the Council had said when she was tested for Jedi skills, and what Master Orn had confirmed from time to time. They all sensed that she would be a great warrior. Perhaps that’s all that she needed to know of herself. Perhaps she was meant to be mindful of others’ futures and not worry about her own.

Mara shook these thoughts from her mind. Even she could not end her own lessons. The forest was speaking to her now, not the Force.

* * *

"How go your meditations, Mara?" Master Orn asked after the next morning’s first hour had passed. Mara did not answer, but remained still in her lotus postion, her eyes shut and her breathing slow and shallow.

"Mara," he said again. A pause, then: "Mara!"

Her eyes shot open, and she started, then looked her master in the eyes.

"You were asleep instead of meditating," he said, his eyes darkening.

"Er… no, master, I-" she said, scrambling to her feet, "Only for that one moment. Just before you came in."

"When I told you to ask the Force to speak to you, I did not mean in dreams."

"I know that, master. Of course you didn’t. But I slept very poorly last night-"

"Why?"

"I—I don’t know," she said. "Only that I did."

"There is fear in you," he said. "Let go of your fear. You must not let it become anger or hate. What are you afraid of?"

"I’m not afraid, master."

"But you are," he said, moving to the only chair in her room and sitting. "You’re worried about… the trials. About your own destiny. You’re afraid that you’ll never become a Jedi."

"I… sometimes do wonder…" she said, her voice trailing into a whisper.

"Soon after meeting you," he said, "I sensed that you would become a great Jedi. A warrior. Perhaps one of our greatest. The Council saw this, too. So there is no need to worry about your trials, for you will take them, and you will become a Jedi."

"But when?" she asked. "Forgive my impatience, master, but can anyone sense when I will become a Jedi? I try, and try, and try even more to see, and nothing appears to me. Not in visions, not even in dreams."

"My padawan," said Master Orn, now rising from his seat and standing before her. He is a large and powerful man, but she is almost tall enough herself to meet his gaze directly. He put his hands on her shoulders. "I do not know myself, but I do know it will be soon. I will make this promise: within a year, you will take the trials, and you will become a Jedi. When the Council calls you, you will be ready."

"Within a year?"

"Yes."

"Starting right now?"

"Yes. Patience, Mara."

"I know, I… I’m sorry," she said. "Patience, speaking to the Force… So many things I need."

"You’ve done very well so far."

"I have?" she said, her face brightening. Master Orn let his hands drop from her shoulders, and he cleared his throat.

"Yes," he said. "You… have made me very proud. With your progress, my padawan."

She tried to suppress a smile, but could not. Any praise from him was cause for celebration in her heart. While outbursts of such feelings were not forbidden, they were frowned upon in Master Orn’s home. Mara regained her composure before any more than a smile showed itself.

"Thank you, master," she said, bowing her head slightly.

"Yes," he said. "But don’t think this excuses you from your chores."

"No, no, of course not," she said, and raced from the room to begin the day.

* * *

Eight objects of varying sizes and shapes and weights floated around the room in an orderly fashion. Some moved quickly, others slowly, and still others simply hovered. In the centre of this strange dance, on the dirt floor, sat Mara, her eyes closed in concentration. Master Orn entered the room from time to time to observe her progress, and also to thwart her efforts unexpectedly. He would strike the table loudly with a metal rod, or snatch one of the objects from the air and attempt to drop it or throw it, or "accidentally" nudge his padawan as he walked here and there. After many years of these exercises, she had learned to anticipate and to disregard such interruptions. Still, not too long ago he had come close to spoiling her concentration by suddenly switching on his lightsaber and charging, his glowing blade stopping but an inch from her face. Her surprise… and fear, briefly… were almost tangible, but all of the objects remained afloat. Master Orn was most pleased with this particular talent of hers, albeit very concerned about her emotional control.

"You may rest now, if you wish," he said. Mara opened her eyes and guided each floating object to its rightful place, then stood up and brushed the dirt from her backside.

"I have errands in town," he said. "Remain here and rest a little, then resume your chores."

"Yes, master," she said, bowing her head slightly. Orn turned to leave. "Master?" she said, and he paused. "I have had no visions," she said, "But I have sensed a… disturbance in the Force recently. Have you?"

"What sort of disturbance?"

"I wish I knew," she said. "But I sense a certain… danger, I think. I’ve tried to sense more, but you have always been much stronger than I in this. Have you sensed anything?"

Master Orn allowed himself a slight smile. "There is always danger, Mara," he said. "It is the price the Jedi pay for serving the Force: danger lurks everywhere, and our enemies hide themselves well. While I’m away, meditate on this during your chores to see if the Force chooses to show you more."

"I will, master," she said. "Thank you."

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