#fanp

The planet of Illum was covered in snow and ice with a storm cloud promising a snowstorm brewing on the horizon. The sun was slowly coming up and a shiver went up Ikoe’s spine as the three left the ship and the brisk, chilly air hit them. Obi-Wan left the ship first and Ikoe followed slowly after him as he led them toward a huge cliff face. The padawan introduced as Kai followed beside her “Master?” Ikoe asked softly as they stopped beside him.

“Stretch out your hand and focus the Force. Together we can enter,” Obi-Wan replied raising a hand toward the cliff. They raised their hands as well and took a deep breath and focused on feeling the force. Feeling Obi-Wan’s probing presence, she knew what to do. Soon enough, the two watched as the cliffside fell, revealing an entrance to the two of them.

Going through the entrance, Ikoe looked around in awe at the various statues around the room with a small platform in the middle that Master Yoda was sitting on meditating. “Master Yoda,” she greeted giving a small bow that Kai repeated as Master Obi-Wan stood behind them.

“The heart of the lightsaber, the crystal is. Focuses the Force from the Jedi, it does,” Yoda started as he raised his hand up and a rumbling started up. A light hits the mechanism that Master Yoda moved and intensifies into a beam. The beam hit a frozen waterfall that starts melting quickly. “If Jedi you are to become, enter the crystal cave, you must.” The frozen waterfall is gone now, revealing an entrance leading to a dark cave. “Trust yourself, and succeed, you will.”

Ikoe nodded understanding and walked up the stairs that led to the entrance. At the top, she glanced back at Master Obi-Wan and Master Yoda.  “Once you have found your crystal, do not remain inside. As daylight ends, the door will freeze over again, and you will be trapped.” Obi-Wan warned.

“For how long?” Ikoe asked.

“For one rotation. There will be nothing anyone can do for you,” he responded.

“How will I know which crystal to pick?” Kai asked then with a slightly worried look.

“Only you can know which one is yours. Now, hurry,” Obi-Wan replied with a nod. The two went into the cave that was covered in ice with some intimidation about finding their crystal in time. How are we supposed to know what’s our crystal and what’s just ice? Ikoe thought with pursed lips.

“Should we split up?” Kai asked as they reached a room that had lots of paths split from it.

“I think so. Just…let the force guide you,” she replied taking a deep breath and feeling the force. She started walking toward one path and glanced over and saw that Kai was taking another. Ikoe came to a stop in a room and looked up a cliff to see jutting out of the tip of the ice was a bright light. “Ok, I can do this. This is just like any Star Destroyer I’ve climbed before,” she mumbled softly, rolling her neck and shoulders out. With a brief run, she jumped up and grabbed the cliff face, and started climbing up, finding it easier than she thought. Near the top, her hand slipped as she pulled herself up, leaving her to hang by only one hand. A panicked gasp left her but with a grunt, she found a new grip and stabled herself.

Reaching the top, she smiled in triumph as she reached out to the small outcropping jutting from the cliff and pulled out the bright light that dimmed as she pulled it out. She smiled at the small crystal before closing her fist around it and jumping back down to the floor below, going into a roll to take most of the force, standing up, she took off back the way she came. Reaching the entrance finally, a muffled shout had her looking around curiously. “Hello?” she called.

“Ikoe!” Kai’s muffled voice reached her as she walked around. She stopped in front of an ice wall that was on the other side of the entrance that had an opening behind it.

“What happened?” she asked looking around the ice for something.

“The ground gave out under me as I was trying to find my crystal. Good news though, I found it in here! Bad news, I can’t break the ice,” Kai said and Ikoe snorted at the obvious grin on his face and tone when he said he founds his crystal.

“If we do it together, I believe we can break the ice,” she said, placing a hand on the ice and watched as Kai placed his where hers was. Closing her eyes, she focused on the spot under her hand. Cracking echoed through the hall and Ikoe opened her eyes to watch as the ice cracked under their hands before falling down completely. The two smiled at each other before making their way to the entrance where they saw Master Obi-Wan and Master Yoda smiling at them.

“Good job both of you. Together you left the cave. Lessons, you have learned,” Yoda said turning to look at Ikoe as the two walked down to him and stopped. “Find confidence, you did,” he said with a nod that Ikoe returned before he turned to Kai, “and trust, yes?” he asked and Kai nodded. “Take your crystals back to the temple and keep them safe, young Jedi.”

Ikoe and Kai nod once more with smiles before Obi-Wan led them from the cave and toward their ship where they saw the sun still high in the sky. “Your lesson starts now, this is architect and lightsaber designer Huyang,” Obi-Wan introduced as the sounds of whirring fans and clanking metal came closer to them. As Obi-Wan said the name, the robot, Huyang, stepped in front of them and peered closely.

“This is them? They passed the Gathering?” Huyang asked and Obi-Wan nodded.

“Yes, they have,” Obi-Wan said and Huyang nodded slowly. He then launched into the history of lightsabers and who he’s helped make their own, pulling up a hologram of every lightsaber he’s ever helped make. The two looked at the many lightsabers impressed, quickly finding their masters lightsabers along with some other lightsabers they recognize from others. Kai even pointed out the original lightsaber he made when he was younger that got destroyed in a battle against Grievous. Soon, Huyang was instructing them how to put their lightsabers together and put a hologram up that showed how it was supposed to be pieced together.

Collecting the pieced they needed, the two slowly concentrated on their lightsabers and how the pieces floated up into the air and twisted and turned as they floated into place. Once they were in place, Ikoe took a deep breath and lifted her crystal up, and let it float into its proper place before sealing the whole thing into place. She smiled as she watched her new lightsaber floated in front of her, slowly turning to show its design.

The top part of the hilt where the blade left was pointed to one side on a curve that went down. On the lowest part, there was a small rectangular section of metal the was pushed in. Underneath that was the part containing a small vent-like section and the switch that would turn it on. All along it was a swirl pattern following a line that had small arrows going up. Near the switch was lines following the switch that turned into curving lines. Under that was where she would hold the whole thing one-handed with a small section jutted out with the same pattern as around the vent-like area. At the bottom was a piece with a triangular pattern with lines going from it to a small domed part that had a small clip that would hold it onto her belt.

Ikoe turned when she heard a lightsaber turned on and watched as Kai held a green-bladed lightsaber. “Wow,” he whispered as he looked at his lightsaber. Turning he saw Ikoe staring and smiled happily before turning it off and gesturing to her. “Turn yours on,” he said turning to look at her fully. She nodded and grabbed her lightsaber from the air and turned so that everyone could see as she flipped the switch and a purple blade came out.

“Wow,” the two whispered in sync as Ikoe smiled at her lightsaber.

“A purple blade? I thought only Master Mace would have a purple blade,” Kai asked though the question was clearly repeated in Ikoe’s eyes as Obi-Wan looked between the two.

“The blade color is what kind of Jedi you are and what understanding you have of the Force. And I’m guessing Mace taught you about the dark side. Am I correct?” Obi-Wan asked with a small smile as Ikoe nodded. “There you go then. You have a knowledge about the dark side most do not have when they create their lightsaber,” he answered and Ikoe nodded as she turned the lightsaber off and looked at the metal grip, running a finger along the cold metal. “Here,” Obi-Wan held out a length of teal-green leather to her. “Satine wanted you to have this and do with it as you please.”

“Thank you, Master,” she said slowly wrapping the leather around the base with a smile even as a small section was left bare.

“Wait, if Master Obi-Wan’s your teacher, then why did Master Mace teach you?” Kai asked.

“Well, I was in the MedCenter of the Jedi Temple for a while before they took me in so Master Mace taught me while I healed and the Council figured out if I would be accepted or not,” she explained and Kai slowly nodded at that.

“Ah, cool,” he said.

“Let’s go to the training room and see how you do, Ikoe. Kai, if you wish, you can join us to get used to your new lightsaber,” Obi-Wan said and Kai nodded with a smile as Ikoe turned hers off and clipped it to her belt. She followed the two to the training room and listened to Obi-Wan explained what she had to do.

After a while of training, Ikoe was finally getting the hang of it they had arrived back at the Jedi Temple. They walked through the temple after Master Secura picked Kai up from them to continue their training, and the two came across Master Anakin and Ahsoka who looked happy at seeing her lightsaber. “Good job,” Anakin said with a smile as Ikoe started talking with Ahsoka as Obi-Wan nodded.

“Indeed. You wouldn’t guess what color lightsaber she got though,” he said and Anakin looked curious at that.

“What color?”

“Purple, like Mace,” Obi-Wan answered and Anakin looked shocked at that.

“Purple?” he repeated and Obi-Wan nodded.

“Purple.”

“You are correct, I wouldn’t have guessed that. How?”

“Mace taught her about the dark side,” he replied and Anakin slowly nodded at that in understanding.

“That would make sense,” he replied, and Obi-Wan nodded agreement.

“Niece?” Mace asked, sharing a shocked look with Anakin.

“Yes, she was my brothers’ daughter. I’ve been searching for her for years, and you found her finally. Thank you,” Satine said with a grateful smile.

“You’re my aunt?” Ikoe asked softly and Satine nodded.

“Yes, I was devastated when I heard my brother’s ship disappeared. And so was your brother,” she said and her eyes widened.

“Brother?” she looked rather excited by the prospect.

“Yes, your older brother Korkie. He had to stay behind in Mandalore but he should be here in a few days,” Satine explained and Ikoe smiled at that.

“Mind telling me about them?” she asked.

“I would love to tell you about them,” Satine replied, though the two Jedi could tell it hurt her that Ikoe didn’t remember her, or their family. The door hissed open and the group watched as a med droid came into the room and looked around curiously before heading over to Ikoe and Satine.

“You are Satine Kryze, correct?” the droid asked and Satine nodded. “Your niece has sustained internal damage due to an explosion in a Star Destroyers along with some minor burns and a head injury. Some side effects of a head injury are temporary amnesia, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and sensitivity to light and noises,” the droid explained and Satine grabbed Ikoe’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

“How’s her injury doing?” she asked and a whir filled the room from the droid.

“She seems to be recovering well. I surmise that she should be discharged in a couple of days,” the droid answered and Satine nodded, smiling softly at feeling Ikoe squeeze her hand back.

“How long can the amnesia stay? And, is it normal for people to forget things from before an accident?” Mace decided to ask since it seemed that Ikoe only really had trouble remembering things from before her crash.

“Amnesia can last for as little as a few days to years. It depends on what type of amnesia they have which only time can tell us. Typically, people forget the days leading to the accident. It seems like Miss Ikoe here has sustained head trauma years earlier so she would indeed forget things leading to her accident. That could endanger her to having a worse case now. However it seems that’s not the case,” the robot replied and the group nodded.

“Yes, that does seem to make sense. I can’t blame you for not remembering your brother or parents. You were quite young,” Satine whispered and the two nodded.

“If that is all, I have other patients I need to take care of. I’ll come back to do a check-up in a few hours,” the droid said before leaving the room once more.

XXXXXX

“I’ll teach you more tomorrow. Why don’t you go hang out with your brother and aunt,” Mace suggested with the barest hints of a smile. Ikoe smiled as she nodded and left Mace’s quarters and headed out of the Temple toward where Satine was staying. It’s been over a week since they’ve visited and it was their last day on Coruscant before they were due back to Mandalore. She was grateful that they were letting her get to know them once more even though they could have just cut contact.

She waved to Anakin who was talking to Obi-Wan, a man she was introduced to a few days after Korkie arrived. Obi-Wan smiled as he waved to her before she left and continued talking to Anakin as they walked toward the council room to discuss Ikoe’s fate. The two greeted Mace as they all entered the council room together and sat down while Anakin stood in the middle to offer what he knew.

“Duchess Satine, it’s good to see you again,” a woman said and Satine smiled as she hugged the woman as they paused in a center that had benches around with a few shops. Beside the woman was a clone trooper with red paint on his armor.

“It’s good to see you, again, Padme,” Satine said pulling back and nodding to the trooper. “Good to see you, Commander Fox. Please, let me introduce you to my niece and nephew,” she said gesturing to the two behind her. “Padme, this is Korkie and Ikoe. Ikoe, this is Senator Padme Amidala and Commander Fox of the Coruscant Guard.” She pointed to each in turn and the two smiled.

“Nice to meet you, Senator Padme, Commander Fox,” Ikoe said as her brother nodded and shook both their hands.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Ikoe, Korkie. Your aunt talks about you a lot. And please, just call me Padme,” Padme said with a smile.

“Nice to meet you,” Fox greeted before looking around for any threats.

“So, Padme, why do you have protection now? Did something happen?” Satine asked as the group moved to sit at a bench.

“There’s been some rumors going around that troubles brewing. So Palpatine wants every senator to have a guard with them when they go to town. But I’m sure the threat is nothing. Besides, this is a great way for the guard to see the city,” Padme said smiling as she looked over at Fox who simply shook his head.

“I’m here for your protection, Senator,” he replied and Padme chuckled.

“And who says you can’t explore the city while also protecting me? I know you haven’t seen much of it,” she replied and Fox wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

“Oh, we can explore the city together! I’ve been stuck in the MedCenter for ages until now,” Ikoe said and Padme smiled and nodded agreement.

“That sounds like a great idea. But since Fox will worry, why don’t we wait for him to call in another guard to make sure there isn’t any worry about our safety,” Padme said with a knowing smirk that had Ikoe and Korkie laughing while Fox presumably rolled his eyes. But he did indeed comm one of his guards to come to where they were.

“Commander Thorn will be here soon to help keep you safe,” Fox said and the group chuckled softly while Ikoe looked intently at Fox before scooching closer to where he stood. “Yes?”

“Mind telling me what it’s like being a guard for all the senators?” Ikoe asked, tilting her head curious about his job. That had Fox reacting slightly in shock since not many people would ask that.

“Uh, alright,” he said turning to face her before going into discussing what his job was and what it entailed with the other three looking fascinated as he talked.

XXXXXX

2 Months Later

“-you had?” Yoda asked as Ikoe stood before the council and she nodded.

“Yes, not the same as you require, but what I could get,” she explained and the group shared a look.

“What training did you get?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Well, the woman that took me in-” she started but got cut off.

“A Codeslicer?” Mace asked and Ikoe nodded.

“Yes, a Codeslicer named Zahea took me in and found all that she could about the Jedi and the Force to teach me,” she explained and the group nodded.

“A Mirialan?” Mace asked and she nodded.

“Yes. So I imagine Zahea was able to find a lot of information about teaching about the force,” she said and the group nodded. “And most recently, Master Windu has been teaching me everything he knows about it while I healed from the incident. I understand that many of you believe me too old to join the Jedi, but I have been taught most of what the younglings would have been taught,” she pointed out and she watched as various masters nodded to that.

“Bad are they, attachments,” Yoda pointed and Ikoe glanced down at that.

“Well, then you should have prevented my meeting with my aunt while I had no memory of her. If you allow me to join, I won’t let my attachments be used against me,” she argued and that had the group pausing in shock.

“Outside, you shall wait. Decision, we will come too,” Yoda said and Ikoe nodded before heading outside the council room. She immediately sat down with a sigh and leaned her head back onto the wall and looked up at the ceiling.

“So your waiting for the council to decide?” Ikoe looked down to see Anakin’s padawan in front of her.

“Yes. They….seem hesitant to let me in. But I can’t figure out which of the reasons is the big reason why,” she admitted and the girl hummed as she sat across from her.

“Yeah, you do seem to have a lot going against you. Ahsoka Tano,” she introduced and Ikoe smiled as she held a hand out to her.

“Ikoe Kryze,” she returned the introduction and glanced back at the entrance to the room. “Want to meditate out here with me?”

“Sure. Anakin is off doing who knows what right now,” Ahsoka said with a smile and moved easily to be in a position to meditate. “Have you meditated before?”

“Ah, probably not the proper way,” she admitted with a chuckle that Ahsoka shared.

“Well, all you have to do is just breathe and feel the force all around you. Concentrate on it and feel it work around you,” Ahsoka tried explaining as she closed her eyes to do so and she heard Ikoe taking a breath and following suit.

XXXXXX

“Ikoe?” Mace asked softly and watched as the two teens opened their eyes to look over at him. They weren’t sure how much time had passed as they meditated. “The council has come to a decision,” he said and Ikoe nodded to Ahsoka as she stood up and followed Mace back into the council room where Obi-Wan moved to stand next to her with Mace staying on her other side.

“Padawan, you will be. Teach you, they will, Master Kenobi and Master Windu,” Yoda said and Ikoe beamed as she bowed to Yoda and the other Masters.

“Thank you, Master Yoda,” she said as she straightened though there was a look of confusion. “I have a question though, how come both Master Obi-Wan and Master Mace will be teaching me?” she asked and the two in question shared a look before moving to stand in front of her.

“That is a fair question, young padawan. The reason is you need to be taught more before going into the field properly and Master Obi-Wan is often off-planet. So I’ll teach you when he’s off-planet,” Mace explained and Ikoe nodded as Obi-Wan nodded.

“Yes, I’ll teach you when I can while I’m on Coruscant. Come, we shall start now,” Obi-Wan said and Ikoe nodded, smiling as she followed after Obi-Wan. “When I think you’re ready, you’ll get your very own lightsaber, young padawan,” he said and Ikoe smiled as she looked at the ground.

“I’ll do my best to become ready to wield one, Master,” she said and Obi-Wan smiled.

“I know you will,” he said before looking up slightly. She reminds me of you, Master, Obi-Wan thought, you’d have liked her I think.