captain t-rex

As Tasi dragged herself through the lower streets of Theed, a number of conflicting emotions roiled beneath the surface of what she hoped was a plain expression. Shock. Confusion. Fear. It was a bitter homecoming. She knew her master could sense her distress, and she could feel the grief that clung to the Togruta's force signature as it did to hers.

Tasi tried to school her thoughts, store away the more difficult feelings for the inevitability of Shaak Ti asking her to divulge that which weighed her down. Like always, she'd ask her to name each thought, each feeling. Examine every one. Find the root of the problem and work forwards from there. Rationalise, within reason.

She could feel her eyes on her as they walked towards the pyre. Ever watchful, never judgemental. Some of the other younglings had expressed jealousy when she had been chosen to be her padawan, and she thought of that often. They were right to be jealous. The year that she had spent alongside her master was nothing short of thrilling. She was thoughtful and considerate, wise and fair, and she encouraged her padawan's curiosity in a way that not every master did. Above all, she was exceptionally kind. And because of that, she respected that all Tasi wanted right now was to be left alone.

The padawan had not been on Naboo since she was first taken to the Jedi Temple as a young child. As a youngling she read up on the planet, wanting to understand where she came from and what she'd left behind. The files in the temple archive showed her lush grass plains, glittering lakes and waterfalls, and the most gorgeous architecture that rivalled even the sleek lines of the Coruscant skyline and the Jedi Temple itself. It was beautiful. She had longed to see the planet with her own eyes for as far back as she could remember, but now that she was actually here, she'd rather she was anywhere else.

The pyre was set alight once the attendees had filed into the enclosed space. Master Qui-Gon Jinn's lifeless body was engulfed in flames, and Tasi's eyes became glassy with the tears she forced herself to hold back. He had been a role model of her’s. He was a role model to many, and he was taken from them by a cloaked evil whose existence spelled more trouble to come. Her heart went out to Obi-Wan. Tasi did not want to consider what the pain of losing her own master might feel like.

The Jedi Knight-to-be's face was downcast, serious but not without emotion. He was as strong-willed as his master had been, but Tasi could see the hairline cracks in that facade. He was completely exhausted. By his side, was Anakin Skywalker — the young boy that was to be Qui-Gon's new padawan before his untimely demise. He had spoken to her and Shaak Ti very briefly about the former slave boy before returning to Naboo, not knowing it would be his body's final resting place. The boy's expression was hard to decipher, pinched lips and brows as he stared ahead into the flames. Tasi could not begin to imagine what someone in his position might be feeling in this moment.

Ahead of Tasi, the other side of Qui-Gon's padawan, was the Queen of Naboo. Amidala. If there was ever a picture of stoicism, it was her. She was so still it didn't seem unreasonable that she might be a statue. Her painted lips wore a light frown, and at first her eyes just seemed cold, but on closer inspection they read more as fraught, and somehow fervent. Intense. Like a quiet, repressed anger. Curious. It was enough to distract Tasi momentarily. If someone stumbled upon this vigil unknowing, she thought, they would be able to read the gravity of the situation from those eyes alone.

She had watched her speech in the Senate, heard tell of her heroics in the effort to free her people of the Trade Federation's blockade. Tasi knew they were the same age. She knew not much should be expected of many fourteen-year-olds, but it was obvious this girl was something else. Tasi could not do all Amidala had done in the last few days, not with all that was at stake. One day, maybe. But to be able to accomplish so much at their age was impressive. And kind of terrifying. She was terrifying.