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Star Wars: Nemesis	By : RavenNolan Category: Star Wars (All) > General Views: 6651 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Star Wars movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Thanks for the reviews on Chapter 1. Sorry this took so long. DRL has been getting in my way of writing and posting. This next chapter is rather long so I've broken it into parts and sections, but I think it's worth the read.
Thanks to my editors/beta readers Souderwan and Arellowyn for all the help, advice, inspiration, and patience in creating this story.

Of Death, Betrayal, and Alliances - Part 1, Section 1

It had been two months since their arrival on Ryysak and Shala was content that things appeared to be going rather well. While she still could not reach Raina�s parents, the child seemed to be settling into a new family structure regardless. Asar and Kandahar had accepted them as members of the family as well as part of the clan itself, and the children appeared to accept Raina as if she were their sister.

Shala�s time mostly revolved around Kandahar�s schedule. Her days were mostly taken up with meditations, guiding Raina and her children through their academic studies, and visiting friends for social or political affairs.
Shala made a point to always be nearby watching, and meditating to stay in tune with the Force. When she wasn�t performing her duties as protector to the family, she would tutor Raina in the ways of the Jedi. Generally, by the end of the day Shala felt as if she had no time for herself.

At least the times that Kandahar took for leisure were the soothing moments in both of their days. Sometimes they went into the jungle areas surrounding Karusk to get away from the city and enjoy nature a little. Today was one of those times. Kandahar had picked an open area by a river for them to sit down and relax while the children played. Raina went off to play with Ibrim and Iseal as usual, and Shala sat down with Kandahar to enjoy the view.
A gentle breeze moved through the surrounding foliage and made the heat of the day bearable. Shala took the moment to open herself up to the Force and feel it flow through her as tenderly as the breeze licked her skin. She smiled to herself as she felt herself connect to everything. For that moment she could feel herself in the rays of the sun and the wind as it blew through the trees, brush, and grass. She was even one with the water rushing through the river. These were the moments that she lived for. The reminders of what it truly was to be a Jedi. To live in the Force.
Shala was pulled from her moment of serenity by the sounds of the children bickering. At first she thought nothing of it. The children routinely argued. Then Iseal said something to Raina and Shala noticed the smaller child�s hands ball into fists, her brow was knitted together, and her lips had drawn thin. Suddenly, Shala saw Raina lift one hand and shove it at Iseal. The boy went reeling hard into a thistle bush, the obvious result of a Force push delivered from Raina.
�Raina!� Shala stood abruptly and dashed over to Raina. Kandahar was already running over to make sure that Iseal was all right.
�Iseal was teasing me!� Raina screamed, glaring at Iseal.
Shala crouched down to the child�s eye level to give her a stern look. Allowing a hint of anger into her own voice, she reprimanded the child. �Raina that was not an appropriate use of the Force. Using the Force in anger can lead one to use the dark side, and that is not the way of the Jedi. We do not use the Force in such a manner.�
The child attempted to turn away from Shala, but the Jedi firmly grasped the little girl�s chin. �You need to learn to control your anger Raina. I know it is one of the hardest emotions to overcome, and there are moments in which anger is useful and important, but left uncontrolled rage can consume us.�
Raina�s face flushed. The child bit her lip before finally assuming a look of contrition. �I�m sorry Master Shala. I will try harder to control my anger, but it is hard to remember when people are teasing you.�
Kandahar had helped Iseal out of the bush and had brought him over to join them. The mother gave her son a stern look. �Don�t you have something to say young man?�

�I�m sorry Raina.� Iseal mumbled while not looking at the girl. Kandahar gripped him more tightly, causing the boy to look up and sigh. �I shouldn�t have teased you.�

�Good, now go sit down and think of the importance of not irritating someone who is supposed to be your friend.� Kandahar pointed to a spot several meters away from Raina, and Iseal trudged over to it and plopped to the ground with obvious irritation.
Shala pointed to another spot on the far side of Iseal. �Raina, I want you to go sit and meditate on the importance of controlling your anger, and how you could have handled that situation better.�

�Yes Master.� Raina skulked off, leaving Ibrim.
�I�m terribly sorry about Iseal. I do hope he wasn�t hurt.� Shala apologized as they returned to the place at which they had been sitting.
Kandahar frowned in obvious irritation and embarrassment. �No harm was done. Honestly, I�m sure he deserved it. He�s always taunting Raina in one form or another. He does the same to his brother and it�s developing into a rather nasty habit that he needs to break sooner rather than later. The boy needs to learn that there are consequences for his actions. All Raina did was teach him a valuable lesson he needed to learn long ago.�

�Perhaps,� Shala replied, trying to keep the irritation she felt out of her voice. �But Raina also needs to learn that one cannot just use the Force however one sees fit. Use of the Force requires a certain sense of responsibility that she lacks. It is a lesson, she is having difficulty learning.�

Kandahar smiled. �A lesson that I�m sure she will learn in time.� After a brief silence, she leaned forward and tilted her head, her eyebrows drawn together. �I understand that she is a little older than most children when they begin training as a Jedi.�
�Yes. Most younglings are brought to the Jedi Temple before they are old enough to even walk or talk. I didn�t find Raina until her fifth year of life. She was considered too old, but the Force is strong in her and I pressed the Council until they conceded. I considered it better that she be trained in the ways of the Jedi. Now I worry if I can actually train her alone without the help of more advanced Jedi Masters. I would not wish her to grow up without the discipline needed to control her emotions. I�m finding that she is impatient and quick to anger, and that can lead one to use the dark side of the Force. �
Kandahar raised an eyebrow. �Surely you realize that the Force has two sides that exist together for a reason.� She placed her hands behind her back and looked to the sky for a long moment. At length, he returned her gaze to Shala. �The clan I belong to believes that both the Light and the Dark sides have their purposes. They exist together to create a balance. The Jedi and the Sith are a culmination of that balance, but it has not been balanced for sometime now.�

Shala drew in a loud breath as she looked at Kandahar with sudden suspicion and curiosity. �I know only one group of people who are not Force sensitive who speak with such a knowledge of it, but I have only seen them on Coruscant.�
Kandahar chuckled and smiled at her warmly. �The Kestra may not be Force sensitive, but we do manage to understand its mysteries well enough.�
�You�re Kestra?� Confusion and shock showed on the Jedi�s face. �I didn�t know that they even had sanctuaries anywhere else.�

�We are on almost every planet, or in at least every habitable system. We do not always make our beliefs known to the people of those systems, of course. We are rather secretive, you know.� Kandahar smiled slightly. �Here on this world, because of the maltreatment of many females, we provide a refuge to the women of this planet and the surrounding planets as well. Any female seeking sanctuary with us receives it. We call ourselves a clan by the Kestra name to fit in on this world. We are raised and trained in the same philosophies and education that our sisters and brothers on Coruscant enjoy, but most is done in secret. The other clans look at us as a means to obtain a good, dutiful wife or a hardworking, kind husband. Although we truly love each other, my marriage to Asar was arranged by the Kestra leaders here for substantial political gain.� She seemed to pick up on Shala�s disconcerted reaction. �He is a good and kind husband, and he has allowed me to teach the twins in the ways of the Kestra.� Kandahar explained.
Shala felt a surge of excitement and curiosity. �No wonder your meditations reminded me so much of our own! I haven�t had many dealings with the Kestra companions that came to the Temple, so I never really got to ask very many questions about them, but I�m curious� our mediations serve to keep us connected to the Force, but members of your group are not Force sensitive, so to what benefit does it offer you to meditate in the same manner?�
�Meditation helps us to settle our minds and to focus on being in the moment. To be able to use reason and emotion in balance, without judgment, to achieve a higher understanding of the things we observe happening in the world around us. To gain a greater understanding of the will of the Force. We use this to perform our given duties to satisfaction, whatever those services might be. It is not always easy and it takes many years of practice, but we have managed well enough for years. We may not be Force sensitive, but we do serve it in our own way.�
�So how does the Kestra�s roles as companions play into understanding, serving the Force?�
�We believe in helping to find a way to maintain a balance of the Force at all times, realizing that both sides exists equally in the universe at all times. We have served the Jedi and the Sith alike in many different manners for thousands of years, but becoming companions to them has been the most efficient. It allows us to listen and observe in ways that others may not. They can avoid unnecessary attachments and in turn we gain knowledge from contact with both sides. We take that knowledge and seek to understand both the Light and Dark sides to help find a balance. Just because there is a shift at the moment we do believe that eventually the balance in the Force will be restored. That is why we strongly believe that The Chosen One will be able to do that, in time anyway. We must have patience though.�
Shala shook her head sadly at the thought of what she had to tell Kandahar now. �Well, I hate to say it, but The Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker, may have died during the purge of the Jedi Temple. He was supposed to have been there when it happened. There were no reports of anyone arrested or having escaped, and he was not listed as one of the Jedi involved in the attack on the Chancellor.�
�Then it is possible that he was not really the Chosen One.� Kandahar responded sadly. �The true Chosen One will bring balance to the Force� of that we have no doubt.�
�I hope you are right, Kandahar. Right now, though, I�m concerned about whether the Jedi will survive this new reign of the Sith.� Shala turned letting her gaze fall upon a still sulking Raina. Her voice was etched with concern as she continued to speak. �Right now, I�m more concerned about the destiny of one little Jedi and whether she will actually grow to become one. These are dark times and who knows how it will affect her.�
Kandahar laid a hand on Shala�s shoulder as if to comfort or reassure her, but her words were neither to the Jedi. �It is not our choice, but that of the Force that will determine her ultimate destiny.�
For a moment they sat in silent contemplation. Then Raina and Iseal both whined, �Can we go back to playing yet?�
Kandahar and Shala both looked at each other. �The afternoon heat is picking up and we should probably be leaving soon. Let�s give them some time while we pack up.�
�Alright,� Shala chuckled a little while starting to help gather their belongings.

Kandahar called out to the children. �Yes, but we will be leaving soon so don�t go too far.�

With that they both started packing as they began discussing lighter issues.
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Star Wars: Nemesis