[IC] Star Wars: A New Force

[AHeartlessNobody]

Odette continued to glance around the dusty place as Ben spoke to her, saying he felt the same feeling she did, and even gave a thoery that perhaps this was where the younglings had been slain so long ago. She took a deep breath looking down the long hall. It was rather eerie, to think this place had been a place of suffering for so many children that were not only Odette's and Ben's ages, much much younger, all the way down to the ages of five and six. This place had much history, and that was history that could possibly come back to haunt them one day if they Jedi Order wasn't ready for anything someone might throw at them.

That was something she feared the most. The rise of the Sith again. What would happen if another Sith showed up again? Tried to take down their Jedi Order? Would they be able to hold up against them? She didn't know, but the thought of it left knots in her chest. What if a Sith came after them? Sure perhaps she and Ben could possibly fight it off to a point, but the others? They weren't ready for such a thing. Wouldn't be ready for many, many years. Even then, she and Ben were still learning. How far would such training take them before a Sith could get the better of them? After all, the Sith, along with the Clones, had taken out thousands of Jedi. Who was to say they couldn't take out the nine of them and Master Luke?

She needed to stop thinking about this. It was freaking her out more. She took a deep calming breath, "I think we should leave too."

"Kenobi."

Looking up wide eyes, she jumped a little, accidentally dropping her saber to the floor and turning off, holding tightly to Ben's hand, nervousness plastered onto her face, "Did....you hear that?" The look on his face told her he didn't, "I...I just thought..." She glanced around, seeming unsure of herself before sighing, "Maybe I was just hearing things. This place must be creeping me out more than I thought." With that, she let go of his hand, walking to where her saber had rolled a little ways down the hall and as she knelt to grab it, she heard the same thing again, causing her to stand up.

"...Kenobi..." Looking up again, she said nothing this time, looking at Ben. Once again, he seemed to have not heard what she did and it was frightening for her. Why was she the only one hearing this? She stood up straight, glancing about once again until she heard her last name again, this time it was coming from the wall she was standing next to. She kept hearing it, over and over again now, and, reaching out, she put her slightly trembling hands against the wall, letting out a shriek as the wall itself turned, pushing into her as it turned, forcing her into a completely different area, "BEN!"

As much as she tried pushing on it, the wall refused to turn again,"I'm stuck! I-I don't know what happened! The wall turned! And now it won't turn back!" Odette said, continuing to push against it, though finally gave up, taking a step back. She had to stay calm. That was the only way she was going to get out of this mess. She had to trust in the Force to lead her out of this mess. Besides, both of them couldn't be scared and panicked. She needed to be optimistic. For the both of them.

Taking a shaking breath, she spoke to him from the other side, "I...I'm going to try to see if I can find a way on this side back to the main area." She took another deep breath, worry in her face as she pressed her hands against the wall, "I'll be fine. Don't worry. Just stay safe, Ben. Okay?"

[Renny]

Ben Solo - Dissent

Fear ripped through Ben, her scream a nightmare come true, a different kind of terror that he had all but avoided. He rushed towards her voice, carried by the Force almost instinctively. Still though, he was a moment too late. His clenched fist slammed into the wall before he scrambled across its surface, frantically searching for a pad, keyplate, or trick brick.

"ODETTE!"

He felt his breathing quicken, his fear turn into frustration, into anger. So badly he wished to lash out against it with all the might of the Force but his gut and heart warned him against it. If Odette was still close to the wall, he could hurt her gravely. For he was strong in the Force, incredibly so. His potential was... unkind and unfair.

"Don't worry, I'll get you out! I'll get to you... somehow," he uttered.

He felt trapped. As usual the feeling, the helplessness was crippling. His breathing was so heavy that it filled the silence and darkness in the hall, without Odette's lightsaber to warm and light his path, It was pitch black.

Soon afterwards his urgency was alone. His friend had gained composure, found calm in her perilous situation. He couldn't explain how frustrating it was to hear her assure him of her safety. How could she know that? How could she be certain? The temple was a forgotten relic of a terribly dark past, the Force granted power, but it also crafted horrific dreams too.

His breaths slid out in frustration, swift but deep. For a long time he paused, his mouth fighting with his heart until it relented. "... O-Odette, please be careful,"

He pushed off the wall, only a large palm remaining against it. In the Force, he could feel her significant mote of light coinciding with his own presence. She was right there, her palm, on his. All that was between them was a obstacle he couldn't get over. And that lit a flame so violent in his stomach that he had to step away. Lest he tear it down around her and himself.

Dumbfounded, Ben backed up until he bumped into a half-a-broken pillar and fell onto his bottom in pain. Dammit! Was all he managed before feeling his words become stuck in his throat. For some reason, he could see his breath now, a wisp of air that flowed with his lungs. He felt... cold.

Rising up, he realized that the hall he was in was no longer there. In a flash, he was standing in a grand hall, a throne room of sorts sitting admist a dim cerulean light, crimson armored guards with energy staffs lined its path. Its seat was empty and it called to him persuasively, as if apart of him and wanting to return. Ben was still, his arms clenching tight to his sleeves.

In the darkness, he heard but a single sound. Ominous, intimidating, and hollow. A deep, regulating sound. A exhale and inhale. Ben felt instant fear as a black, reflective boot stepped out of the peerless darkness outside the throne's light. Another breath slid through the darkness like a fog. Than a deep voice, just as intimidating, and just as cold spoke,

"Claim your destiny child, claim our seat," he declared.

The vision suddenly ended and Ben found himself backed up against the wall, sweating profusely, though the cold had still chilled his bones. He hustled to his feet, and with frustrated beyond reason plaguing his heart, lashed out against the wall behind him. A swing of his tense arm sent a blast against it, smoke and debris was inside the darkened room. Smoke drifted out by his feet, while a dim glow in the darkness glimmered in his eyes. A blue glow that beckoned like a moth to a flame.

The blowback cradled his hair gently.

Apprehension kept him grounded for a moment. If he had taken a step near it would another vision torment him? He decided to take that bet; he knew that familiar glow. The importance of that dim light. It was a crystal, one meant for a Jedi's weapon. Perhaps... perhaps it was time. The Force was telling him so. He stepped through the makeshift hole, made his way into the room, and heard the terrible crack of bone and flesh. Ben looked down and cringed with disgust.

Damn, rats.

Once up on the light, he noticed it was concealed partly inside of something. Taking a knee he loomed over it till he discerned what it was. The end result was a lightsaber, a broken one but a lightsaber nonetheless. Picking it up, he felt its weight in his hand and knew then that both Luke and Odette had been carrying a powerful burden. He could feel himself become... more. Ben raised up and glanced towards the wall that Odette had been trapped behind.

His movement was instant, the Force driving him quickly towards the target. With a crackle and crippled hum, the blue lightsaber came to life and forced its way into the wall. He doubted she'd still be behind there but it was easier following her footsteps. Rock melted against the overwhelming force as he etched, with effort, a path. Once done, he kicked the wall down and stepped through it.

She was gone. But he figured that himself.

"Odette! You here?"

[AHeartlessNobody]

☾ ΟÐξΤΤξ ΚξΝΟβΙ ☽

"I will." Was Odette's response to Ben's request for her to be carefully and then she dropped her hand from the wall and started moving through the dark halls, saber held tightly in her grasp, telling herself she needed to focus. Focus on the Force and allow it to guide her. She had to take a few deep breaths as she walked, letting it lead her in the right direction. She hoped. She had been moving along for a good fifteen minutes until finally she reached a dead end. She groaned slightly in frustration, leaning against the end wall, "I thought I had it. The Force lead me here, so why am I--" She let out a small yelp as the wall she was leaning on turned, causing her to fall backward into yet a another area. She lay on her back and sighed, running her hands over her face, "Note to self. Stop touching the walls."

As she lowered her hands though, she had to stop and lay there, frozen. She was no longer staring up at the ceiling of an old hallway. She was staring up at the beautiful blue sky and was laying in the grass. Slowly sitting up, her eyes grew wide as she saw just where she was. She was in the middle of a large meadow, with beautiful flowers sprouting from everywhere. At the other side of the meadow were many houses with amazing architecture and beyond those was the market. It had been so many years, but she remembered this wonderful place like the back of her hand. She took in a deep shaky breath, standing up and then immediately began running toward the homes at such a fast pace that she almost tripped a couple of times.

She ran past all the houses until she got to a certain one. It was a pretty home with a beautiful garden and pond out front. Simple yet extravagant all at the same time. She stood outside of it for a long moment, just staring up at it as though she wanted to take in every detail. To write it all into memory again. Then, slowly she moved up the steps and opened the door, walking inside.

She didn't see anyone at first. She walked into the living room and paused, looking around this as well, until she heard someone moving about in the next room. She walked carefully into the kitchen, spotting something that made tears well up in her eyes and small sobs to escape her.

Her mother stood there, humming and cooking just like she remembered the woman would. She had always been so happy, never taking a day for granted and always seeing the best in everything and anyone. One could say that Odette probably inherited the same attitude from her mother. The woman looked up after a moment, smiling at Odette, making the padawan take a step back in confusion as she spoke to her, "Oh, there you are Odette. Will you set the table for mommy?" Odette stood there a moment, unsure what to do at first, whether she should just go along with...whatever this was, or do something else. In the end, she hesitantly dried her eyes and decided to do the former.

She had just picked up the stack of plates though when her mother spoke again with a frown on her face, "Oh dear. I forgot We're out of flour. I need to run over to the market. Come along, little one." Something about this didn't feel right. It was too familiar. Like deja vu. Her mother took her hand, and though Odette protested it was as though the woman couldn't hear what she was saying. Just continued to smile and go on with the normal daily task, dragging Odette along.

Her mother opened the door and they walked outside, having walked down a few steps before there was a bright flash in the sky, making her mother look up in shock, pulling Odette to stand behind her. The bright flash hit the flowered fields in the distance, and more flashes followed, making loud explosions and causing the fields to go up in flames. Her mother shook her head, watching in horror, as in those flaming fields, ships landed and off marked many storm troopers heading for the homes, "No...not here. Not now..." She looked to Odette and there was clear panic in the young mother's eyes before she was pulling Odette back into the house, slamming the door shut behind her. Outside there were screams and shouts, as well as the sounds of blasters being fired.

It was all so real. She could feel everything. Sense everything. The disturbance in the force was suffocating as her mother dragged her through the house. She had been through all of this once before, and yet it was still just as frightening now as it was then. This temple was making her relive her worst possible memory, making her live one of her three greatest fears. Her mother got to the back of the house, where she pushed aside a book shelf and on the other side was a dark and cramped hidden room. Despite her protests, her mother pushed her in and began closing the door, sounds of the storm troopers breaking in and shooting down her mother were as real as the day they had happened. Her screams left Odette in a horrified state, kneeling in the dark and cramped room, sobbing.

After a few moments, her breathing became more uneven and hands frantically searched for a way out of this pitch black and small area, the temple dishing out her second most greatest fear, dark and small spaces, something that had stemmed from this very situation of her mother hiding her away before she was killed. After a few moments of searching, she curled up where she sat, her sobs continuing until she heard the stone wall slide open. She quickly looked up and, as the door opened, she was staring at a sight she didn't quite understand.

The place was some sort of reactor room, with a red shield she was trapped behind, unable to enter the room just yet. She could see from her side of the shield though, on the floor of the room, was, what appeared to be, a Jedi Knight. One she had never seen before with long hair, looking older, but not nearly as old as Master Luke. And, stepping away from the fallen Jedi, was something that sent absolute terror through her. A man with red and black skin, wearing black robes and carrying a double sided red saber. He turned to look at her were she sat in fear, his yellow eyes piercing, making her clutch tightly her saber.

A Sith.

So now the temple was throwing at her the last of her fears. She kept telling herself this wasn't real. That it couldn't be. Yet, though her mind knew it wasn't real, her body was trying to convince her otherwise. It all felt so real. She could feel the shield in front of her. Could feel, fr some reason, the anger at the sight of a fallen Jedi Knight, a fallen comrade, yet no, this felt different. As if she had known this man some how, even though she had truly never seen him before in her life.

Then the shield dropped.

Panic ran through her as the Sith rushed toward her with the double bladed saber and she herself jumped up in retaliation, their sabers meeting in a dangerous way as they fought. Once again, it seemed so real. She could feel every swing this Sith made, could feel the power and pressure as their sabers met after each hit. He was very skilled, but so was she, and that same emotion toward the fallen Jedi was pushing her forward in her fighting. It was difficult with the two blades against one, but finally she found an opening and slashed the one double bladed saber in two, one of the sabers dropping, leaving the Sith with just one saber like herself.

That didn't make this any easier though. She continued to fight on with as much of her might as she could, but she was clearly outmatched, this Sith likely having many more years of training than she herself ever had.

Suddenly, the Sith shot his hand out, causing her to go flying back with a shriek, almost falling to her death in the reactor shaft, but gripping for dear life onto the side by a light sticking out just a bit. Looking up, she saw the Sith looking down at her with animosity as he, much to her horror, kicked her saber over the edge, down the shaft. Now with no weapon it seemed hopeless. She was struggling to keep her grip and if she jumped up he would likely slice his saber into her.

Yet, as she looked up at him, there was a flash of green and next thing she knew, the Sith was falling down in the reactor chamber, literally cut in two. She looked back up with wide eyes, seeing a young man standing there, looking down at her. He wore Jedi robes as well, leading her to believe that this young man was either a Jedi Knight as well, or a padawan. Though something told her it was the later due to his chopped hair with one thin braid. A feeling told her that she was safe and so, she jumped, landing swiftly on her feet as the young man went to the dying Knight, holding him in his arms and speaking to him, though the words she was not able to hear, as if they were just moving their mouths.

She stood there and the two didn't seem to notice her anymore. She watched on in confusion, rubbing the back of her neck as she looked down, and when she looked back up, the padawan was no longer speaking to who she assumed was his master. No, now the deceased Master was gone and standing there now was an older version of the padawan, obviously a Knight himself now. Though she was so sure she had never met this man before, he still seemed oh so familiar. As if she somehow did. Yet, staring at the man silently, it somehow clicked into place. This man was not just some random Jedi she was having a vision of.

This man was her grandfather.

Obi Wan lifted his closed hand and Odette could see a bright purple colored glow from it. She looked to him but he continued to stare back expectantly. She reached out her hand and the man placed the glowing crystal into her palm. She took it and looked down at it, inspecting it curiously. Looking back up, she opened her mouth to ask a question, but frowned because he was gone. And though he was gone, his voice cut through the silence,

"Be the light even in the most impossibly penetrable darkness."

In the blink of an eye she no longer stood in the reactor room, but instead stood back in the hallways of the temple, holding tight to the glowing purple stone in her hand. What did he mean? Why did he have to be so confusing? If it was impossibly to penetrate the darkness, then how was she supposed to 'be the light' per say? And what darkness was he talking about? What was he trying to say in all this?

Sighing she shook her head. She needed to get out of here before she got even more confused than she already was. For a moment she looked about for her saber, only to find it no where. What in her vision had been the reactor shaft was a deep crevice. She looked over the side of it and saw nothing but darkness. There was no getting that saber back, that was for sure.

She went searching again. This time, the temple didn't seem to have any more tricks for her, having already pitted her against her three biggest fears. She continued walking, only to hear a voice echoing through the halls that made her so relieved, "Odette! You here?"

"Ben?!" She was searching more now, running down the halls, calling out his name as she turned corners and followed his voice until she turned another corner and saw him down one of the longer halls. Relief welled in her at the sight of him, it being very clear as she rushed toward him, "Ben!" Once she reached him, she didn't even stop, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug for just a moment before pulling back and letting him go, looking to where he apparently had busted a hole in the wall...with a light saber? As surprised as she was to see him witht he broken looking saber, they could discuss it later, once they were safe and out of this hell hole, "Let's get out of here before anything else happens."

[Renny]

Ben Solo

Ben felt distant from the Master, Odette, and the padawans. Outside the Temple, they had converged on the monumental steps. With Luke at the top gazing intently back, thoughtfully so, at the former Jedi temple. Ben had grown tired, exhausted. All of his worrying, his visages, frustration, his anger... all of it had physically drained him. It made him ill-tempered. Not even the quirkiest of padawans had dared near him, feeling his anger through the patchwork of the Force.

They would be hairline fractures in the grand scheme of things he imagined.

His fear of the dark-armored warrior stayed close to his heart. It was a cold, ghostly feeling. A spectral hand that beckoned and caged him all at once. His thin dark brows lowered over his cold eyes, his lean face was pale even in the brisk, warm, sunlight. Ben looked down at his hand. His fingers were calloused and dirty, long and strong.

He could still feel Odette on his palm. When she embraced him in that dark hall, he instantly embraced her back but refused to speak. After a meaningful minute, he had grabbed her shoulders, slipped his hand in her's, and retraced their steps back; his lightsaber's crackling blue light led them back. He had nearly hurt her in his desperation. It was scary for him.

Now, they waited for Master Luke to give his orders.

There's too much Vader in him...

I won't allow myself to be lied too! Not anymore, not after this. I will find the truth! His fist balled until his veins knotted against his skin.

While the master spoke, Ben motioned down the stairs and strode away. At the moment he cared little for whatever they were talking about. It all seemed meaningless now, the training, the mentoring, the lies... the secrets. Ben's jaw tightened as he called on the Force and pulled his lightsaber into his hand, with a swift motion the blade crackled to life.

The padawans were startled into looking his way.

He felt their curiosity in the Force. But he didn't have anything for them look into, to peer at. It was simple hostility, anger that felt uncontrollable. With a brutal slash he scarred the stairs black. A piece of the squarded brick split in two and broke apart. Ben heaved vehemently from the onslaught he delivered afterwards.

"I'am broken and split in two, Master. Yet you've done nothing to piece me together. These talks are only making it worse, pushing it back so that it can explode later. You will tell me the truth about what you're hiding from me," he tried to control his madness but felt it slip towards the end.

[AHeartlessNobody]

☾ ΟÐξΤΤξ ΚξΝΟβΙ ☽

There was something bothering Ben, yet she wasn't sure what it was. She had seen it in his gaze as he had wordlessly hugged her and took her hand as they left the lower levels and headed up to the main floors. She had kept her hand tightly in hers until they reached where the other padawans were. Neither said anything from hat point on. It was clear that, while she had been through a lot down there by herself, so had he. The question was, what exactly? What was bothering him so badly? She hadn't seen him like this since the first day he had been left with Luke and herself. It bothered her to see him like this.

But she kept quiet. She knew how he was when he needed to think and didn't want to bother or upset him more than he already was. It was out of respect for him that she left him be, sitting there while all the other padawans talked excitedly amoungst one another about all they had seen and found. She herself stood against the wall, listening quietly until Master Luke stepped up and began talking to all of them about all that would need to be done once they got back to camp. He had to be aware of the tension his two eldest padawans were giving off. But she also didn't expect him to call them out on it or discuss it with them in front of the younger ones either, so she assumed that he would speak to them about what happened later on.

Yet, it seemed Ben wasn't going to wait that long.

She jumped a little, turning her attention to Ben as his broken and crackling saber lit up and he slashed angrily at the stair well, staring at him wide eyed with worry as he spoke, telling Master Luke how he felt and demanding to hear 'the truth'. What truth exactly was he talking about? Just what had happened here at the temple to make him so on edge and to suddenly act like this. It...scared her.

Luke didn't jump. Didn't flinch. And if what Ben had done surprised the old man he didn't show it. He merely turned calmly to the lad and after a long moment gave a nod, "Very well, Ben. If you wish to know the truth, I will tell you. But know that, once you hear what happened here and what it has to do with our family, you won't forget it. It is a heavy burden on those descended from the Skywalkers. One not to be taken lightly. I will tell you, follow me."

"Master?" Odette spoke up, "Should I take the others to where we set up camp while you two discuss things?"

Luke looked to her, for a moment in thought, before he shook his head, "No. Let them rest here for now. We all we head there after I speak to Ben. And you as well."

"Me?" Odette said in confusion, shrinking back a little at the thought of having such a serious talk with the Master, wondering what all this had to do with her.

"Yes, Odette. What happened here has just as much to do with the Kenobi family as it does the Skywalkers. Besides, your tension ever since you and Ben returned has been just as clear as his has. Now come. There is a long story to be told." Then, after instructing the others to stay where they were until the older three returned, Odette walked beside Ben, following Master Luke down the long halls of the Jedi Temple.

[Renny]

Ben Solo

"No," Ben repeated Luke's answer to Odette to his mind. Of course not. Every step of the way I want her next to me. The truth was... is, that I needed her there.

He didn't spare her a glance. He only followed behind the Master, the eyes of the students and their worry was palpable in the Force. Ben had felt determined to finally discover his past, to scratch away the veil in hopes that it would rectify his struggle. It was the only explanation for his confusion, for his anxiety, and temper. What else could it be after all.

The buzzing of life soon picked up, the once low hum became a growing grumble as they ventured further away from the padawans. Ben thought pointedly on his actions before, on the anger and frustration that drove him there, on the cold and night-stricken warrior that hammered the final nail in. And though he hated to admit it, more than anything else, on the fear that provoked it. Luke's back was broad and strong, his age hadn't done much to bend or hump it.

For the first time in a long time, Ben thought.

He's truly strong.

Than he lowered his head, his curling strands falling below his chin. He half-smirked, a devious if not wholly unnatural grin. ... too strong. The strong always holds the darkest secrets.

Before long the Master leapt onto a four story stature, a building of some sort made of pure bronzed metal. Ben followed suit with a Force augmented jump of his own; he felt graceful in that moment, the wind pulling at his face and his robes, the sunlight striking over his pale countance. He felt supernatural, inhuman. But that was everything he invoked or immersed himself in the Force. It made him feel godly, if not completely invincible.

When he landed with a thump, his crouched form perceived Luke's back to him, the old man's eyes were off in the far distance. Ben didn't have time for his mediocore dramatics.

"Explain, Master Luke. I'm trying my best to understand... and I'm coming up blank. I need this guidance," Ben said stonily.

Luke nodded in agreement before half-turning to face them. The sun lit his face witih a clarity, discerning the past-etched wrinkles and the pain in his soft-spoken eyes. "Very well," he sighed, the wind caressed the deep folds of his light robes. "Ben... your mother and I, you, we are descendant from Anakin Skywalker. His name carries an immeasurable weight, his deeds both glorifying and demented are worth hiding from anyone but you even more so. But I've glimpse what the Force holds for you and I'm fearful of it..."

Ben had begun to rebuke the obvious but Luke's paused stopped him. It was meaningful, he remembered thinking.

"He was thought to be "The Chosen One" first, after that, he was a powerful leader and Jedi Knight; a hero of the Clone Wars... and even further down, he became a unmoving killer. He slaughtered the Jedi in the temple. Lulled by the Dark Side, he cast aside his friends and his family. He destroyed everything he loved before my Master, Obi-wan, killed him. The Jedi Temple is stained by that, immersed by the void that was his anger. You both could feel it right, the powerful connection to the Force inside the temple. It can dreg up bad memories but this also allows the Force to work in mysterious ways."

"So he died then?" Ben asked not so much for himself, rather, he was guided to that question by the Force.

"Anakin, yes. His shadow not so much." Luke eyed Odette shortly without warning. Unbidden the Master strode towards the northern edge of the building, staring in the direction of the padawans. "We'll finish this later, Ben, Odette. Something is amiss and heading towards the padawans, we must hurry." He was calm.

Ben hadn't noticed it before but now he felt a sense of danger for his peers as well. "You bet we will." He set in stone.

[AHeartlessNobody]

☾ ΟÐξΤΤξ ΚξΝΟβΙ ☽

Odette meekly followed behind Ben and their Master, walking away from the other padawans and heading further off. Every once in a while she would glance over at Ben and there was no mistaking the tension there. She sure didn't miss that smirk on his face either. Unlike his playful smirks she was used to, this didn't fit on his face. It was one that made her shiver and want to say something to him. To distract him from whatever dark thoughts were encasing the sweet and gentle Ben that she knew. Yet, if she did talk to him, would he even listen to her right now? He seemed so intent and focused on getting information out of their Master that she doubted it.

She hopped gracefully atop the building after them, her feet hitting the roof with a very agile jump next to Ben. After more pushing from Ben, Master Luke turned and began speaking to the two of them, telling them the story, or at least a shortened version of it. Of how Ben's grandfather was very strong in the Force, just as Ben is, but had turned to the Dark Side and destroyed everything, killing the Jedi and single handedly destroying the Jedi Order before Obi Wan killed him.

She looked up at that remark. So, her grandfather had killed Ben's grandfather? Or so she thought. Yet, Master Luke said that the man's shadow had lived on. What did that mean? Someone was either dead or they weren't. Right? She looked to the Master, shrinking back a little as he suddenly eyed her, wondering just what direction this story was taking, when he turned and walked to the edge of the building, facing the way the padawans were. At the comment of something heading toward the others, she couldn't help but notice it as well.

She reached for her saber to her side, only to stop. That was right, her saber was gone. All she had was the glowing purple crystal in her pocket and it wasn't like that would do her any good right now. She would just have to trust the force to help her out this time in protecting the others. And so, she jumped off after them, quickly heading toward where the others were, a determined look on her face, planning to get there before any of the others could get hurt or attacked.

[Renny]

Ben Solo

Ben sped through Coruscant, the metal world whizzing by in blurs of bronze, silver, and copper. Immersed in the Force, the young descendant of Anakin Skywalker felt the danger ahead. They: the padawans, could be heard now. Their whimpers was meshed with the sound of scraping metal, the cringe of sharp, pointed steel on Coruscant's titanic metal surface.

A sense of urgency sent him even faster into motion, until his hair, robes, and skin felt like a flicker on his body. He burst through and came to a stop, looking upon the smaller, canine-like animals that surrounded the ship. A few were larger than the rest but they all looked alike. Silver fur with a line of black fall down its spine and tail. They were numerous, he counted a dozen himself.

Ben ignited his lightsaber, its powerful crackle brought the attention of the beasts to him and away from the padawans held up in the ship.

"You've picked the wrong children to mess with," he thought, eyeing them and absently wondering what they doing there.

A large one snarled maliciously at the three, the others fell into order and did the same. They were now all focused on them and all Ben could do was smile. He reveled in the thought, in the chance that he'd be able to let out all his anger instead of holding it in. He didn't care how reckless it would be, he'd go all out today and crush this beast.

He snapped a hand forward and with the Force crushed the windpipe of the beast that had growled first. Afterwards, its body went them and lifless. The sizzle of his ligthsaber burned, awaiting the next to fall to the princling.

[AHeartlessNobody]

☾ ΟÐξΤΤξ ΚξΝΟβΙ ☽

The whimpers and horrible scraping sounds that filled the air as they drew closer to the younglings sent a slight panic through Odette, hoping they weren't too late and that all the children were unharmed. She went as fast as she could, pushing herself faster and faster as she went through the roof tops and streets of the shining city that was Coruscant. Finally she arrived just a second after Ben, seeing a pack of animals surrounding the ship and the younglings. If she remembered correctly from the books she read, these creatures were Nexus. Very dangerous with razor sharp teeth and claws, as well as inferred vision. But with a poor skeletal structure as well.

She felt somewhat helpless at this moment. Her saber was gone, down in a hole somewhere in the temple, and she had yet to build herself a new one out of the kyber crystal she had found. But there had to be something she could do. Even if she didn't have a saber, she still had the force. And it proved her useful when one of the creatures attempted to jump at her. She threw her hand up instantly and with a mental push shoved the beast away from her and into one of the metal walls away from her before jumping out of the way of another that came for her.

Luke was helping to take care of the creatures as well. It was difficult with so many of them and just he and Ben with a saber. And at the same time, he was keeping a close eye on Odette. The girl had no weapon and he was worried she might put herself into danger by trying to fight without one. Finally, after slashing at another one of the creatures, he spoke quickly to her as she kneeled upon a pillar, kicking one of the Nexus in the head, "Odette! Get to the younglings and get them inside the ship! Ben and I can take care of these beasts!"

Odette didn't like the idea of leaving them two alone to fight these things. She clenched her jaw, seeming very unwilling, kicking back another one of the creatures, "But Master! There's so many of them! What if you and Ben can't--"

"Odette, this is no time for arguing!" Luke said quickly, and clearly he wasn't going to discuss it.

It was not a suggestion but an order, and as padawan, as much as she hated it, she had to obey. Thrusting out her hand again, she knocked another of the Nexus away from her and hopped down from her perch, using the force to keep the creatures away from her as she moved toward the younglings. The seven of them huddled there, fear in their eyes as they looked at the ongoing battle against the creatures, paralyzed with fear to even move from the spot they were in. It didn't take long for her to reach them and after knocking a few more of those creatures back, some dying from being thrashed into the metal buildings by the Force, the creatures were momentarily fixed on the two most dangerous people here, the two with the sabers.

This left she and the younglings off of their radar for now and it was her job to get them safely onto the ship. And so she moved quickly over to them, crouching down to their level to speak to them, "We have to get on the ship." They all looked at her, trembling, still seeming to be frozen in place, unwilling to move. She stood up straight, "We don't have time to be scared like this. If you all want to be Jedi you have to be brave. Trust in the Force and do what is right for yourself and others. And right now what is best for everyone is for all of you to get to the ship."

A few of them after her saying this nodded and ran quickly to the ship and she had to nudge some of them to get them moving. He youngest one, a little boy around the age of six, wasn't moving though. She picked him up and moved quickly to the ship with him, getting him on board. Once she had him and the others on board, she hid them away in the very back room and grabbed one of the blasters on the ship. Now that she had the younglings safely away and shut the door to the room in cast any of the creatures came on board, she was going to go help Luke and Ben.

As she walked toward the front of the ship, she saw one of the creatures had managed to get on the ship as well and she shot it dead on the spot as it went to pounce at her. She went around the body and to the doorway of the ship, standing there and shooting at the creatures. She wasn't the best aim, since she was used to a saber, but she was sufficient enough at it to take down some of the beasts. After a few more minutes of the three of the taking out the creatures, it seemed like they were finally safe. She sighed, catching her breath after all that, and looked to Ben and Master Luke,

"Why do you suppose these Nexus were so close to the ship? I mean, I know they can be very harsh predators when threatened or provoked, but it seems strange for them to randomly come out and attack like this..."

[Renny]

Ben Solo

His concern for Odette had been small, if not altogether unnoticed as he whirled the blue line of his saber with a practiced but coarse rendition of his studies. For sure, he had been both praised and criticized by Master Luke. Anger usually guided his lightsaber, an extensive array of rage fueled blows and deathly-wishing precision was etched in his combat tactics.

The Master was not approving. Though he understood well. Ben could see it in both the Force and in his Master's empathetic eyes.

The last of the canine beast lept at him as he slashed one of its packmates across its snout, the piece fell from its large head with a gross thump and released gore. Ben whipped around at the prodding of the Force but would have been too late in the process of doing so; his blue saber whirled in anticipation, his own downfalls urging him to minimize the damage but the need was unnecessary.

A grunt from Master Luke announced the powerful gust of wind that followed the final beasts' harsh, cruel, and destructive throw into the far-off stairs of the Temple. Its body crackled with the impact, its bones were crushed. When Ben turned to look at his master, Luke's hand had been to his side, his palm and fingers open as if releasing the Force's hold on something.

He wasn't sure how he liked being rescued by him now. It felt so... so hypocritical. To have insanely demanded answers from him and than to be saved? What kind of Jedi was he going to be become in the future? He was so indescribably and unjustly frustrated that it showed on his pale cheeks. He bit his bottom lip before simmering his saber, the blue crackle vanishing from air.

Luke seemed to feel him out in the Force and Ben allowed it. It was not without cause, he thought vaguely. Instead he turned towards Odette and listened to her speak.

Luke spoke momentarily afterwards. "Nexuses are usually bothered to attack humans, or any sapient beings for that mater. They're creatures of stealth, not aggression. This was instigated," he concluded. "I can feel the Force being orchestrated in this, we must question the padawans." He stepped closer to Odette before registering something in Ben's face.

Ben wondered if it was the resignation he now felt, the smoothening of the tenseness that once contorted it.

"Either way, Odette, I'd appreciate it if you and Ben could prep the starship. The Nexues did a small number on its exteriror, nothing the Force can't fix though."

Honestly Ben wasn't sure if this was Luke's way of conveying trust or some misguided attempt of pushing him away. He felt that a earful would come later, regardless of today's event. The Dark Side had trickled in him now, stronger than ever. With his anger came its palpable drops, with his ire, the facuet was turned even more.

With indifference, Ben strode towards the ship, opened the hatchet and told the kids to meet with Luke by tress. He had a dead Nexus to tend to. Tapping into the Force, Ben stretched his hand out with it, and tenderly gripped its right-hind leg. The powerful beast labored to breathe.

Its not dead? he thought, stopping to study the body.

[AHeartlessNobody]

☾ ΟÐξΤΤξ ΚξΝΟβΙ ☽

It wasn't hard to sense the tension in the air between Master Luke and Ben. She could feel the darkness seeping from Ben through the Force and it was something she didn't like. Something that worried her for her friend. He was getting too angry. Too bitter. And Odette wasn't sure what she could do to help him. She knew he didn't want to be like this. That he had been trying his best to be good and be of the Light Side of the Force. She could only hope that once they got a chance to talk with Master Luke and finish their discussion maybe this Darkness could be dulled or taken away all together. Until then though, she just had to be there for him. Help him feel better and try to dull those emotions the best she could.

At Master Luke's orders, Odette gave a small nod and a "Yes Master" before getting to work. While Ben went to tell the padawans that Master Luke wished to speak with them, she went to getting the dents off of the exterior, using the Force to fix them. After she had done so with a few of the dents, she felt Ben's curiosity from inside the ship and stood up, walking into the ship once more to see him peering down at the Nexu she had shot inside of the ship. She had thought her shot had killed it, but apparently she was wrong because as she approached Ben, she could see its labored breathing and frowned,

"Come on Ben. Let's get it outside." She had seen how he had been studying it. It was strange, to see him interested in a dying creature. It didn't settle well with her. She just wanted to get it out of the ship so they could clean up and get things in order. And so, helping Ben, they managed to get the thing outside and she sighed, looking down at it, "I....think it might be best to put it down." She said with a frown, looking over in Ben's direction, "As much as I don't like the idea of killing something that's not trying to attack...it is suffering. And will die anyway from its wound."

She let out a sigh and pulled out her blaster, glancing over her shoulder to the ship. She wanted to make sure none of the padawans had wandered outside. She didn't want any of them seeing this. She was very hesitant in doing so and didn't feel comfortable doing this. But it was something that had to be done. And she didn't want Ben doing it. He was already having a hard time as it was staying close to the Light. She was afraid killing something like this might trigger that side of him more than it had already been today.

And so, she aimed at the beast's head, turning her head away so she didn't have to watch,and shot. The beast's labored breathing stopped and it was dead. She let out the breath she had been holding and tucked the blaster back into her sash, turning from the dead Nexu, "Let's finish with the ship." She went back to work, fixing the dents and such on the ship. It took a little while and the whole time she could feel her worry for Ben growing. What if this side of him continued to grow? What if he did turn to the Dark Side at some point?

No, that wouldn't happen. Ben was kind and caring. This was just a one time thing, wasn't it? It had to be. Ben was just going though a lot. Every one went through something like this at some point. Whether it be wondering about what you were doing with your life, doubting yourself, or getting angry at everything. Everyone took it differently and this was just Ben trying to figure things out. And she needed to be understanding of him and help him through it.

When they were finally done, she sighed and gave a small smile, "There. Almost as good as new aside from a few places with scraped paint. But that can be fixed easily when we get home." She looked over to him and frowned silently for a second, silent for a moment as though in thought, and then stepped forward, taking his hands in hers, looking up at him, "Ben? I don't know what's going on, but you're not alone in this, okay? Just remember, Master Luke is there for you, and so am I. I'll always be here for you." She gave him a quick hug and then smiled at him as she pulled back,

"So...I loose my Light Saber and you find one. Now I finally see what it's like to be weaponless. At least until we get home and I build a new one." She crossed her arms over her chest, a slight smirk on her face as she attempted to lighten his mood, "Once I do that then we can really get training with our sabers. Of course, I'll kick your butt at it like always." Well, not always. It was pretty evenly that she beat him and he beat her. They were fairly matched, each bringing their own advantages to a fight. But, she was of course teasing him, "Of course, unless you're afraid you'll be beat by a girl." She said, sticking her tongue out at him playfully.

[Renny]

Ben Solo

He had been lost in thought while eyeing the quickly fading Nexu. What had seemed a pointless glance had become an objective study. Removed from the world around him he forgot about his current situation and quickly fell into some weird trance. What was it about watching the doomed Nexu?

For a moment he believed the answer would come in the form of some Force-hint. Master Luke had taught him to trust in the ethereal patchwork and so he had begun to fold himself, countless times over in the Force. Until not only had he found it troubling but a struggle had ensued. Deep in the sac of universe, the beginnings of a tug-o-war had stirred. The Dark Side and Light Side.

If not for Odette he would had still been fighting it.

The melo sounds of the starship, the still calmness inside the cool husk felt binding. But it always did when he was with Odette. She had a way of making him feel choked up and restricted. As if he needed to be even more careful about what he said, did, or thought. Ben loosed his hold on the Nexu, letting the Force go wherever it went when not in use. He stepped in flow with Odette's strides, though his were a bit more tense and powerful. Whatever he had experienced in the temple, he observed, had brought out an aggressive posture.

If only that was all, he mumbled.

As she went to executing the Nexu, Ben turned his sights from the unsavory moment and looked off towards the polluted sky above. The laserfire echoed for a moment, provoking Ben's fist to clench under the cover of his wide-sleeves. Once she was done, he finally built up the nerve to speak, though it was with finality, and without a opening for response.

"You didn't give it the chance." His eyes remained on the path ahead.

Half a standard-hour later, Ben was wiping a skin of sweat from his forehead. The argous task of both physical exertion and Force-manipulation had weakened him, leaving little room for facading around Odette. So once they were done, he sat down on his bottom, pulled his sleeves up to the elbows and looked at their handy work. The starship was looking more or less the same.

The air kinda got heavy and he expected as much. She hadn't said anything about his little explosion or about the Dark Side that infected him. He wondered if she would reject him. That made him look away as she took his hand. It would be appropriate, he told himself. She was like some flag-starship of the Light Side, it shouldn't want anything to do with him.

"You don't have to say it, I already kno-"

He started but realization quickly grasped what she was saying. Ben felt, immensely happy and immensely foolish at the same time. Of course she wouldn't turn her back on him. She was after all... the girl he loved. Ben stood up from his spot and refrained from smiling. "Beaten by a girl with the power of the Force backing her up? There's no shame in that," he told her, hitting her with his signature half-smirk. "However, if we did battle, I'm certain I'd have you begging for mercy," He crooned.

[AHeartlessNobody]

☾ ΟÐξΤΤξ ΚξΝΟβΙ ☽

Odette laughed slightly at his last comment, shaking her head with a small smirk of her own, "In your dreams, Solo. You wouldn't have me begging for mercy even if you had me dangling over the edge of a reactor shaft." She grinned and elbowed him in the side, "Come on, let's go tell Luke we're done cleaning up here and figure out what we're doing next." She linked her arm with his, walking into the ship just as Luke was dismissing the padawans after speaking with him. Unlinking their arms, Odette looked to Master Luke, curious about what the padawans had said to him, "Master? What information did you get from the younglings?"

"They know nothing of the attack or why it happened." Luke let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose, "This gives us no reasons as to why the creatures became so agitated toward the padawans."

"Does that mean we're heading home rather than camping here and more thoroughly looking at the temple?" She question, a little bit of disappointment in her voice. This was the first time she had been away from their planet since she was seven years old and for it to end so soon she couldn't help but at least be a little disappointed. Yet, if it was over and they did have to head home, she would have understood as well. After all, the safety of themselves and the padawans should come first.

Yet, Luke surprised her by shaking his head and looking at she and Ben, "No, we will be staying. But precautions will have to be made. We will be sleeping on the ship rather than outside. And we'll need to take shifts in keeping watch. Then tomorrow we will explore the temple all as one group for a few more hours before heading back home." He nodded to the two of them, "We will finish our conversation once we are safely back home and away from the temple. For now, our focus is on the safety of the younglings and ourselves, as well as searching the temple."

"Yes Master." Odette said with a slight bow, "Should I go inform the younglings to get to sleep? It is rather late."

"I agree. It is later than they are used to staying up. Have them sleep in the back room furthest away from the door of the ship." He said, nodding to the room he mentioned, "I will take the first watch. Ben, you will take the second watch, and Odette will take the last. Now, go get some rest for now."

With that, Odette gathered the younglings and brought them into the back room, helping them make pallets to sleep on before making her own, placing it next to Ben's so that the two of them were near the door of the room just in case they needed to rush and help Luke with something. She fell asleep rather easily there, sleeping peacefully. That was, until Master Luke came back in and nudged Ben, speaking to him and telling him it was time for his shift. The soft talking had been enough to wake her, though she stayed still where she was, listening as Master Luke layed down to sleep while Ben took his shift.

Knowing her shift would be in a couple of hours, Odette tried to go back to sleep, though found herself unable to do so. She was still worried about Ben, and didn't like the idea of leaving him alone to himself when he was in such a vulnerable mind set. She layed there a good half hour into his shift, until she finally gave in and sat up, glancing to make sure the other padawans and Luke were asleep, before she crawled away from her pallet and stood up, sneaking out of the room and into the front room of the ship. She smiled slightly at him as she entered and moved silently to sit beside him on the floor against the wall, before whispering to him so that she wouldn't wake the others, "Hey. I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd join you."

[Renny]

Ben Solo

The night sky was veiled in shades of smoke, the pollution from the metal planet must had completely destroyed its atmosphere. He looked outside the small viewing port with disinterest; his mind, partly enveloped in the Force and partly shying from it. If he had to describe the contradicting feeling, he'd call it misery. A calm and reclusive misery but misery nonetheless.

He let his bent knee stretch further out. Propped up against the wall, he could feel the cold steel of the hull through his robes and surmised that it had to be cool, if not windy outside.

There's too much Vader in him...

The alien, persistent, thought made him clench his fist. Out of all the sweet and loving things, his mother had ever said to him; why had that one stuck so closely. He felt barred because of it but felt he didn't have the right to bring it up. Maybe he couldn't bring it up but what did that really say about him? The Force left only a slight image in remark; a still vision of the dark warrior from before, the column of silver from above the throne lined down his menacing helmet like starlight.

The hollow sound of a respirator echoed before it ended.

It wasn't long until the Force had nudged him from his shaded view and guided him towards Odette nearing him. He glanced towards her with a obvious precognition before scooting shortly to make room for her. He knew she'd sit next to him. Though, if it was out of want or need, he'd never know.

Ben chuckled softly as she mentioned being incapable of sleeping. "Truth is me neither," he mumbled, turning away to the viewport. "The Master thinks we'll be okay for tonight. He searched the perimeter earlier and didn't feel any disturbances, I scooped it out with the Force myself. I didn't find anything at all... I've been thinking, what if they were drawn to... to me."

He let that sink in for a moment before quickly continuing. "Not that it bothers me or anything, I won't fall because of it but... well, if that's the case... maybe its better if I go off on my own. At least until I get all of this figured out."

[AHeartlessNobody]

☾ ΟÐξΤΤξ ΚξΝΟβΙ ☽

Odette listened quietly to what Ben was saying with a soft frown on her face at his theory as to why the Nexus had tried to attack the padawans. It was clear Ben was still upset and probably shaken after all that had happened today, and that was affecting the way he viewed himself and the world around him. She didn't like him being so harsh on himself. She wanted him to be happy and for him to see himself as more than someone who just causes trouble for others. Reaching over she gently took his hand like she had done before outside of the ship, letting out a sigh as she had him meet her gaze,

"Ben, none of that was your fault. If it was, then why would they go after the padawans rather than us up on the roof of that building? It's clear they were agitated about something, but the truth is we probably will never know why. This place seems to do strange things to everyone and everything. So far its caused bad feelings, stress, fear, visions, and so much more. It's the temple and city here, the past still haunting this planet. None of that has to do with you Ben."

Smiling slightly in reassurance, she moved a bit to sit in front of him and took his free hand in hers so that she held both his hands, "I know you. There's light. And good. You may not sense it yourself, but I do." She paused in thought, "You want to know what I think? The Dark Side...it...I think there's a little bit of it in all of us. But, its just a matter of what you choose to embrace." She looked up to meet his gaze again, "Sometimes, we let our emotions take control when they shouldn't...we make mistakes...but we're humans, Ben. We may be Jedi in training, but we're not perfect. Mistakes are okay. You don't have to be perfect."

She moved from in front of him to sit beside him once more, "No one's perfect. Not you. Not me. Not Master Luke. It just matter's where your heart is." She looked to him, giving a smile, "Your heart is in the right place. I can feel it. And no matter what, I'll be here helping you through all these bad feeling. As long as you and I are a team, there's nothing we can't handle, okay?" She said with a grin, "So, you can try to go off on your own or whatever, but little Miss Pushy here, as you so fondly called me when we were younger, will be stalking you every step of the way."

[Renny]

Ben Solo

Silence.

It permeated the room as Odette spoke, her words were like silk on his heart. It made him want more, to crave the sensation of knowing that: no matter what happened she would be there for him. The Young Solo found his pale countenance taunt and gently twisted. The Jedi were taught to refrain from emotions, so said Luke. But what if they couldn't? What if the pull was too strong, something godly like the Force.

He hid his blushed face by turning even more towards the viewport.

I can't! he reminded himself vehemently. I won't... Though she's right, its up to me to decide what I want to do. I've been so concerned with the past and the secrets that I never considered it. The thought that I may have the pleasure of choosing my own destiny was ludicrous. If I really have the options, then I'll take my first step now.

Ben looked towards Odette, the real Odette; he saw through her beauty, through her heart, through her soul... all that was left in his sights was the greatly enlarge mote of Force energy that he had witnessed the first time he laid eyes on her. It reverberated, pulsed with a steady but reliable color. It was and always had been his guiding light.

Without really thinking it through, he reached over towards her with his nearby hand and touched the side of her face. His resolved eyes were firm in his wants, so he was quick to move gently towards the back of her head; he thumbed the front of ear kindly. Ben fell towards her slowly, his lips somewhat parted in hesitance though he knew he wouldn't stop. The look on her face was near priceless, it sparked a friendly smirk on his face.

"If I go too far you can shoot me later," he whispered, leaning ever closer till their lips were but inches from one another. "Odd, you are my light. If you was ever to leave I'm sure the Dark Side would take me. To keep that from happening, I'll make you mines. Right here," he uttered even quieter. "Right now."

His lips fell on hers not a second after, the warmth between them kindeled something inside of him. Flourished a new feeling of freedom as his chains were broken.

[AHeartlessNobody]

☾ ΟÐξΤΤξ ΚξΝΟβΙ ☽

Ben seemed to be thinking something over, working through something in her mind, and she remained quiet after her little speech, giving him the chance to think everything over that she had commented on, letting him work through it while silently being there for support, one of her hands still holding lightly onto his as a reminder she wasn't going anywhere. It was only when his free hand moved that she finally looked back up at him, confusion as his hand was lightly placed against her cheek.

She had a rather confused expression on her face at first, wondering why he had placed his hand there. Was there something on her face? Was his hand cold and he wanted her to warm it? But, then, a little bit of realization happened when his hand slid through her blonde curls to rest on the back of her head, his thumb lightly running over her ear in a gentle and soothing manner.

When she had mentioned about choosing what he wanted to embrace, this wasn't what she meant, and yet she found it hard to stop him in this moment. She just stared at him with wide blue eyes that were full of confusion and fluster, "...Ben...?" She said quietly as he leaned forward and spoke again, telling her she could 'shoot him later if he went too far' as well as saying she was his light. What was keeping him from the Dark Side. And that he wanted her to be his. She found herself even more flustered at this, unsure what to do in this moment.

Then his lips found hers.

This was a new experience for her and she wasn't quite sure how to react to it. It was...warm. It left her feeling happy. Happier than she had been in a long time, which was surprising. It left her also confused just to how long Ben had felt this way, or how things had escalated with them to the point that they sat here like this. It was a fury of emotions and yet she couldn't stop her hand from slipping from his so that she could hesitantly wrap her arms around his neck as she began to kiss him back gently for a moment or two.

But of course the strict Jedi in her was battling with this emotional self that was kissing Ben. She knew they shouldn't be doing this. That it was against the Jedi Code, and should they be caught they would be in a huge amount of trouble. Maybe even separated by Master Luke should he find out.

After a few moments of being pulled so tightly to him and kissing him, she found herself stopping the kiss, yet unwilling to pull back, her forehead pressed against his, internally battling with herself in what she wanted, and what she knew she shouldn't be doing. It was clear she wanted nothing more than to start kissing him again, to be with him like this, even as she spoke. Her words were weak as she tried to catch her breath from their first kiss, her actions and how tightly she held onto him clearly going against the words she herself spoke, as her lips brushed against his once more ever so lightly between her words, "Ben...we shouldn't be doing this...the Jedi Code...remember?"

[Renny]

Ben Solo

The Jedi Code... What did that mean to a unshackled man?

Ben let hers and his forehead stay so intimately pressed together. If he had pulled away he would had been going back on his resolve. He couldn't do that, he had to take the steps he wanted to take. So he cuffed her face in his hands softly and looked into her eyes. Not soon afterwards he felt the robust tinge of nervousness fill him and darted his gaze to the ground.

"If the code tells me not to love you, than to hell with it. I can be a Jedi and love you too. Obi-Wan did it, how do you think you got here," he muttered, mindful of the padawans and Luke. "You basically told me to take control of my destiny. Well I'm telling you now, this... You. Its what I want."

He finally found her eyes again, a rare instance of his boyish charms shining through in the moment. "We should stop... kissing," he specified. "I'm not strong enough to resist you anymore but if we continue, I'm afraid this feeling in my chest might burst open."

Ben pulled away from her slowly and leaned back against the cold steel again. A powerful breath exhaled from him as he relieved the moment over and over, incessantly on repeat. He had enjoyed it immensely and that was but a small fraction of the emotions he felt. Anger, frustration, love, happiness, disappointment. From here on out he would let every single one of them loose when he felt them. And he'd do what he wanted when he wanted.

Without looking towards her he raised his head towards the dully lit ceiling of the starship. "Thank you, Odd. You've freed me."

[AHeartlessNobody]

☾ ΟÐξΤΤξ ΚξΝΟβΙ ☽

"If the code tells me not to love you, than to hell with it."

She shouldn't be condoning him saying such a thing about the Jedi Code. She should have been more strict with it and told him the Code was very important to follow. After all, unlike him, she had grown up on that very code from the time she was a young child. It had been the basis of her life for years, as taught to her by not only her parents, but Master Luke as well. And yet, he did have a point. After all, her own grandfather had been in love, despite what the code said. Even if he had been in hiding, he had still been a Jedi and had broken that part of the code, marrying and starting a family of his own.

Besides, hearing Ben say he loved her left her feeling as though such a thing as love couldn't possibly be wrong. It left her feeling warm, wanting to stay with him like this forever and continue kissing him just like this. Even more so when he said, out of all the paths he could take in controlling his own destiny, he wanted to be with her. when he cupped her face in his hands, she smiled gently under his lips before laughing softly at the statement they should probably stop kissing,

"That and with the others in the next room, it might not be smart to continue like we are." She mentioned, giving him one last kiss before they slowly moved apart to sit where they had originally been sitting, looking over at him with a small smile as he thanked her, "And thank you, Ben. For loving me."

...

The next morning Odette found herself waking up sitting in the same place she had been sitting next to Ben just as she had been the night before. The only difference was her head rested ever so gently against his shoulder as she had slept. It was a comforting feeling, one that made her feel at peace for the time being. Had they really...kissed last night? Had Ben really confessed his feelings to her? And had she done the same through her actions? The way she sat next to him, leaned up against him like this, was proof that yes she indeed had done just that, and everything that had happened last night had not been just a dream.

Yawning softly, she sat up and looked around. It was still very early and it seemed none of the padawans or Luke were not up yet. Good. It would have been hard to explain why she had been leaning against Ben like that had they walked in and saw them like that. It wasn't as though she regretted what had happened last night between them, because she didn't Not one bit. But she also felt it might be better to keep what was between the two of them a secret from the others. At least until they finally gained the title of Jedi Knight from Master Luke. Right now though, even though they were older than the others, they were still young in the eyes of Master Luke and as such were still under his command as his padawans.

Standing up, she glanced out the window of the ship. All seemed calm and she didn't feel any disturbances in the Force for now at least. So, from what she could tell, everything was safe.

Walking over to one of the tables in the room, she sat there and started digging through the cloth bag she carried around with her, pulling out one of her books. She tended to, in her free time, read often. She didn't have many books, just the ones Master Luke had given her. They were all books for studying, though she didn't mind. She had a passion for learning new things and so studying was something she didn't mind doing when she wasn't busy with anything else. She sat there silently as the others slept, reading and learning to pass the time.

[Renny]

The Next Morning - Coruscant, The Jedi Temple

Ben's consciousness fluttered awake, though his body demanded more sleep. He didn't know why but he felt oddly comfortable and complacent. But in that moment he just wanted to stay still, he wanted to let Odd continue to rest on his shoulder. Her lovely scent wafted pass him, near enveloped him. If not for the incessant need to relieve himself he would have rested in that moment for hours more.

Instead though, to his surprise, Odette had moved first. He wondered how long she had been sleep but thought better than to ask, in fact, he pretended to be sleep; if only to save him the embarrassment of seeming overly attached to her. For awhile he heard her rustling through her clothed bag, the shuffle of her books whispered her next move. A silent smirk appeared on his lips.

A few more minutes passed before he roused with a convincing motion, than let his eyes open. Ben stood up then to go use the lavatory. He skirted around the padawans who were sleep and noticed that Master Luke was missing from the others. That made feel... weird and worried. Perhaps it was last night's confession to Odette... their new relationship that provoked the feelings. It made him wonder if the Master could sense things like those too.

The luke-warm water fell over his hands as he looked at himself. His pale skin felt taunt over his face, his eyes looked heavy; weighed down by his years of agitation and control. He expected them to become livelier now that he'd embraced the freedom to choose his own destiny.

... Claim your seat. A hollow breath echoed afterwards.

Ben stumbled back as the quicksilver visage of the black-helmed warrior flashed before his eyes. He tripped over his ankles and fell, banging his head against the door. A moment later, he could hear Luke tap against the door.

"You okay in there?" he asked.

Ben rubbed the spot on his neck where the pain seemed to spawn from, it throbbed and was tinder. "Yea," came his louder than needed response. "A spider fell from the ceiling, scared the crap outta me is all."

"Oh... well come on out. I must speak with you and Odette."

"A-Alright," Now he felt anxiety creep up through the fear of the vision.

Before long he had returned to the room, where he found Luke waiting as calmly as a sentienel and Odette. Ben glanced over to her and wondered if the old-man had said anything yet.