Jacen ran to the young man's side, smoothing his sister's hair away from her face, she was breathing.
"Thank goodness! Jaya." Jacen was unsure what he was feeling. He was excited and happy but he had a tugging feeling. Zekk carried Jaina aboard his ship and Lusa began attending her.
"She'll be alright if you guys stop mopping about and stop that crazy group that did this." Lusa shoed everyone but Raynar away from Jaina. He helped her clean Jaina's cuts and care for her larger wounds.
The other Jedi Knights ran back into the battle. They ignited their lightsabers and deflected the blasts. Liya tuck-rolled and pulled out her own blade. It was clouded gray. It had changing patterns the swirled like storms.
"Where did you get that?" Jacen asked her.
"Long story," She replied, hanging back by Zekk as Tenel Ka and Jacen charged toward the main attack vehicle. Lowie took a secondary and they took the third.
"You deflect, I'll disable." Zekk instructed Liya. She nodded; defense was better for her. She was unable to help using her full force potential. Hopefully the others would be too distracted to notice her Master force. Zekk dove toward the attack vehicle and slashed it with his lightsaber. The armor was strong, but with time he could cut through. That wasn't his main concern. He had to take out the guns. He flipped up using the force to guide and propel him. Liya was doing her best to attack the incoming shots, but something was odd about her. Zekk decided to figure it out later. He was now on top of the tank like attack vehicle. He was trying to cut through the main gun but the other's kept firing at him. He was desperately dodging them and keeping his blade on mark. Liya helped a lot and if it was possible she began drawing more fire. She stole a glance at the others, they were all doing about the same. She couldn't figure out how, but Lowie had finished and was now helping Jacen draw fire for Tenel Ka. Zekk was almost finished...done!
Now with four quick swipes and he leaped down. Their vehicle was disarmed. They others finished a split second latter. Now they had to worry about the ground forces. They were still trying to poison the force.
They had little trouble disabling most of the ground crew. Most of them were scientist. Soon Liya and Lowie were cleaning up the scattered soldiers, Tenel Ka was wrestling Celtan and Jacen was face to face with Koty.
"No weapons, a fair, hand to hand fight?" Koty asked glancing at Jacen's lightsaber and his blaster.
"I don't want a fight-"
"You're going to get one!" Koty threw down his blaster and charged the smaller boy. If he could only but his people some time, they'd pull through. Jacen switched off his lightsaber and met Koty's charge.
Tenel Ka had the other girl under control, she held the girls hands behind her back and kept her from helping Koty. Lowie stopped Zekk from joining in, this was Jacen's fight. Koty was bigger and stronger than Jacen but Jacen had his own advantages. Jacen pushed Koty off him, "First you poison the force," Koty pushed to the ground and punched him.
Jacen kicked him and rolled sideways getting up.
"Then you shoot our ship down." Jacen dodged when Koty charged him again.
They had been edging their way to the shaft near the pillar. This was wear the toxins were administered. Koty hoped to push Jacen off.
"Then you nearly kill my sister!" Jacen was too near the edge, Tenel Ka thought. She watched Koty at him one last time,
"No body messes with my sister!" Jacen ducted just in time, sending Koty his back and into the shaft.

7 |________________________________________________


Liya's heart raced, that could be worse then anyone thought. She and Zekk
ran over to Jacen, Tenel Ka was still holding Celtan. Liya peered over
the edge of the shaft, the lights began glowing more intensely. She saw
Koty at the bottom of the shaft, on the black stones. Zekk looked down
wondering what she was looking at. 
"What does that mean?" He asked her.
"It means he's still alive, and it means he's like me. He will die and
stay dead yes, but now he has the force and can't turn to the dark side."
"I don't get it, those stones can...give people force abilities? They can
prevent people from going to the dark side?" Jacen had joined them.
"No, they conducts the force like metal conducts electricity. Something
about them charges the midi chorline in your blood. They go crazy and the
next thing you know there are so many you start hearing voices. And you
can go to the dark side but it's very unlikely." Both boys looked at her.
"Never mind. It doesn't matter. We have to get him up here."
"Why?" Jacen protested, "I just got him down there."
"Don't worry I'll handle him." Tenel Ka had knocked Celtan out and she
and Liya used her fiber cord to go down and get him.

"Feeling a little better?" Lusa asked Jaina who had remained conscious
for a record two minutes.
"Yeah, I think so." She sat up and drank the water Raynar handed her. She
looked at the view scene, there was Zekk and Liya and Lowie fighting the
remaining attackers. Tenel Ka was kicking the sith out the girl who
dropped the pillar on her. Her brother was fighting the 'crazy
commander'. Zekk was now just watching with Lowie and Liya. Her brother
wasn't doing so well, but wait, yes he was. The commander went for a
flying fall down a hole. They brought him up and headed toward her. She
sat up and almost tried to stand but the glances from Raynar and Lusa
made her reconsider. They came and Zekk and Jacen ran over to her. Zekk
hugged her gently then pulled back to kiss her. She was glad of that.
"That never gets any more beautiful." She whispered to Lowie. Jacen was
giving Zekk a funny back off look. Jaina laughed. Lowie looked out the
still open door at the sky and mumbled something. 
"Your right, that never gets any easier." He stared at her is surprised
and grumbled a question.
"You'd be surprised what I understand." She also looked up at the sky and
mumbled her own something, "Tyme." 
It was Tenel Ka's turn to look at Liya, "How do you know Wookie? And how
do you know about those stones?"
Liya sighed; it was time she told them the entire whole story. She had
them all sit down and get comfortable. Jaina was still on the bed, but
she was resting her head on Zeek's shoulder. Tenel Ka and Jacen were
siting back to back and Lusa had folded her legs with Raynar beside them.
She began by telling them what she told the crew of the Lightning Rod the
day earlier. Then she added the key parts she'd left out.
"Our people were always curious about the rocks on the bottom of the
shaft. My father was the lead scientist on our first colony, Ilop. He
brought up the stone and when he and my twin brother touched it, they
turned evil. They touched the stones to others and then we fled into the
forest. That's where I met time." She blushed. "He was my first love. We
met when we were fleeing from my brother. Then my brother left, he took
my mother and father with him and killed them so he could follow his own
dark wishes. Tyme and I touched the opposite stones, the stones that
conducted the light side. When he came back he infected me with the dark
power and it was killing me. Tyme threw the dart my brother used back at
him. My blood had a similar affect on him. I made Tyme leave to save the
others.
"My brother and I battled to the death. I took of his head. The evil was
so enraged the planet was destroyed and Ilokis was frozen. Ilog was
turned into desert and my people had to leave. They scattered, and
started from scratch on their new planets. They had already started
developing different languages before they'd left, and the Woolies are
the ancestors of Wookies. I picked it up very quickly. The next time I
was born they asked me to pick a word to describe the idea of time. I
thought of my friend and chose his name. 
"There are a few other quirks, like the title Skywalker and how Tyme was
the only one to keep it. Also, my original name, Anakina. Tyme named his
son after me and it became a family name. My brother Tiran was born into
an Anakin Skywalker, the one who became Darth Vader. I was Shine` at the
time but before that I was Natani Jade."
They all looked at her in amazement. She had lived for millions of years!
They all had many questions. Yes, she had the force every time. No she
didn't remember everything every lifetime. If she was separated from her
parents at 12-18, she got her memories. It had to be a forever separation
though, like in her first life. She didn't remember if she was too old or
too young. No, she had never talked to her since, not as her brother at
least. She had spoken with Anakin Skywalker but he had been too young
when he was separated from his mother. No she'd had never went to the
dark side or finished Jedi training but Tiran always went to evil and she
had been a Master (self-trained).
 
The captured Koty began to stir.
"Ah aha. It seems our friends is waking up." Tenel Ka observed. Jacen
tensed, Tenel Ka put her hand on his shoulder. "If you need us, we will
be outside." She grabbed Jacen's hand pulled him out the door. The others
crowded around Koty. Liya stood ready to restrain him. His eyes flashed
open but his hands flew up to his head in stead of lashing out at his
captors. 
"Lis-listen t-to m-meee," Liya's voice was echoed in Koty's mind. "Listen
for the quietest voice. The one you can hardly hear. Listen to it. Be
calm, push the other voices away." She still echoed but Koty did as he
was told. Soon the rush of noise that had attacked him had died down to
the murmur of the smallest voice. What he learned in those few seconds
before opening his eyes was incredible. He was left with a calm feeling,
and a feeling of regret. He had done the wrong thing, many wrong things.
The first thing he saw was the face of the girl who told him how to
control the voices. She had green eyes and a strange blonde-auburn color
hair. He smiled at her. He knew she was a friend.
"My name is Liya. You have just been given a great gift."
"Sure, and I wish I could thank the son of a sith that gave it to me."
Her expression tensed. He then noticed the others in the room. There was
the boy's sister, a Wookie, a dark haired young man, a blond spike haired
young man, a centiauriform young woman. There was also a miniaturized
droid hovering on micro jets.
"How about you call him Jacen? This is his twin sister Jaina and Lowie
and Zekk and Lusa and Raynar. Tenel Ka is with Jacen, waiting outside to
avoid incident."
"I'm Koty." He knew this was not good.


Ishany had escaped. She had gone back to her planet and brought back an
army of people who did not support Koty and his kind. Unfortunately, his
kind had also brought re-enforcement. She looked down at the planet and
the ships around her, today would be the day her people would be free.
She spotted a small ship coming in. 
Rabba had found Ilog, and the attack fleets assembled around it. Now she
was sure Lowie was there. 


__
8 |___________________________________________________________

Rabba landed the Rising Star next to the Lightning Rod. The
attack fleets had taken no interest in her, only each other. She was
unsure what would happen, would she expose them all to the plagues? Would
his friends hate her? Would he hate her? She opened the door, it was now
or never.
Lowie grabbed her in a fierce hug and wouldn't let go. At least
he hadn't tried to kill her. Then he surprised her by doing the Wookie
equivalent of a kiss. They were too young but she was glad.

"Rabba's back. Hmmm." Jacen said. He and Tenel Ka had a
meaningful walk, er, talk. 
"We should warn the others." Tenel Ka said, raising an eyebrow at
the questionable activities that the young Wookies were performing.
"Uh, yeah." Jacen agreed. They burst in the door, interrupting
Liya's conversation with Jaina. She had been discussing Koty's future.
"Rabba's back and there's gonna be trouble. There seem to be two
large fleets up there."
"Oh no!" Koty cried. "Ishany must have warned the Resisters!"
"The who?" Jacen asked. ("No, that's a band dear," TK corrects)
"Never mind." Liya said. "We defend the defenseless. They have
defenses and they are having a revolution." The others just stare at her.
"Ugh! Its part of the Jedi code, the old one anyway. Besides
Jaina needs major Bacta tank attention." 
"Rabba?" Jaina asked.
"Yes." Tenel Ka said. "And Lowie is quite, uh, glad to see her."
"I'll say" Jacen muttered under his breath.
"We can't all fit in the Lightning Rod." Lusa observed. They were
crowded in and couldn't fly with so many passengers.
"You think Lowie's alright?" Jaina asked.
"I think so." Her brother said, "But if it would make you feel
better I'll go check. Problem solving isn't my department." He went
outside.
Lowie and Raaba were commenting on the fleet overhead. 
"Uh hi, Lowie, Raaba." Jacen greeted. Lowie chuffed back. Em Teedee
zoomed over to Jacen.
"Master Jacen is there any way I can be of service?"
"No I just came to check on Lowie for Jaina. They're all deciding what to
do. We can't all fit in the Rock Dragon. So Lowie, you seem ok. Raaba,
how are you?" He was obviously uncomfortable around her. She said she was
fine. She offered the Rising Star to help but they still could not
transport everyone off planet.
"Thanks though. I'll tell the others." He went back inside, leaving the
two Wookies to talk of the past.

"...So it is agreed." Tenel Ka finished saying.
"On what?" Jacen asked, "Raaba offered her ship but it's still not
enough."
"Lusa, Raynar, Liya and Koty will stay here until we return for them.
Lowie and Raaba will make there own decisions." Tenel Ka informed him.
"The rest of us will take Jaina to Coruscant." Jacen nodded. It sounded
good to him.

Lowie had mixed feelings and he sensed them in his friend. They wanted to
be together; to be friends, but the events in their past made them
uncomfortable. Lowie grumbled his feelings, best to be honest and get it
over with. He told her that he valued their friendship and he valued her,
but he was upset about what happened the last time that they met. 

She agreed, she felt similar but she was sorry for what happened
last time. She knew she should have trusted Lowie but she was just so
afraid of loosing him. She had known in her heart that he would never
join the Diversity Alliance willingly. She just wanted to have things the
way they were, before he'd gone off to a Jedi Knight and she had faked
her death. But she knew that was impossible, and she really just wanted
him to forgive her.
He told he would, but he wasn't sure his friends would be so
quick to trust her. She should know that they were just as important to
him as she was and he would always be there for them. 
She nodded. She knew were his loyalties were. She would not make the same
mistakes twice. She rose and pulled him up. It was time to speak to the
others.

Lowie and Rabba decided to stay on Ilog and watch over there others. They
all watched as the Lightning Rod disappeared into the pale sky, carrying
Jacen, Jaina, Zekk, and Tenel Ka.


Liya coached Koty on how to handle his gift and they all waited on the
lonely desert planet. Liya knew how to find water and food so they were
set. The battle above ended in stalemate but none of them would know and
only Koty knew why and who.

End of Book I

1 month later they are all on Yavin 4, ready to journey back to the rim. Ishany found them and Koty had to fight not to strangle her. She told the Jedi about Koty and his 'political movement'. It was based on the planet Czsan and spread across a vast beyond rim Empire. Koty was the military leader and in times of trouble, the leader of all. Their society was based on age. You were born on the southern continent of Mora and lived there with your parents until five. Then you were considered 'prime' and went to the northern continent of Shagr. On Shagr you had a job, career, and family. Your family was a group of five others who all varied in age. The children and teens ruled while the old and youngest farmed and lived simple lives. This culture had thrived since the great scattering of Liya/Anakina's people. Now civil war was tearing apart the planet and at the center of it all were two groups of small defenseless children. Each group had kidnapped the others smallest children as hostages. The Young Jedi Knights would have to save them.

___ 1 |______________________

Anakin and Tahiri were coming too. During the battle on Ilog many of Koty's military had seen them, so they would have to disguise themselves. Anakin and Tahiri were not seen, but the bright orange academy suits were too conspicuous. Anakin chose a white shirt, blue pants and vest with boots for his new outfit. Tahiri selected a plain pale blue dress with soft sandals. Jaina wore soft green pants, white T-shirt and brown jacket with normal brown shoes. She used a dye pot to blacken her hair and had her brothers twist it into a small, sloppy bun. Jacen chose nondescript brown pants and shirt with black boots. His hair was alight brownish blond. Tenel Ka wore a simple white robe and normal shoes. Her now brown hair was neatly braided into one large braid.

Zekk chose not to try anything with his hair and wore a green outfit. Lowie had auburn fur and his black strands were a chocolate color. He decorated his belt with different kinds of left over parts from the old rebel base. Em-Teedee was placed in a snug little green pouch on Lowie's newly decorated belt. Raynar wore blue pants and vest with a pale blue shirt. Lusa ware a flowered pink cloak and her cinnamon hair was a dark reddish purple color.

When had all gathered in the grand audience chamber they couldn't help but laugh at how different they looked. Liya had used the force to create her disguise; she was her original self. She had the strangest color fur they had ever seen. It was sort of blondish brownish reddish aburnish pale gold. They all decided on Strawberry brown. Koty was Koty. Their cover story was: They had helped Koty escape and wanted to join his empire. Since Koty was so respected, no one would doubt him.

He had learned much in his 1 month of training but declined Luke's offer to stay and train. He didn't want to be a Jedi; he wanted to go home. He would help the young Jedi Knights find the resistance but then he was out. He only owed them that much.

CHANGED MY MIND:

Liya is disguised as her former self, Natani Jade.

They had repaired the Rock Dragon, and Jaina was fully recovered. Jaina co-piloted for Zekk and Raynar and Lusa were with them. That left Tenel Ka, Jacen, Liya, and Koty in the Rock Dragon and Lowie and Rabba in the Rising Star.

When they got to Ilog Koty's guard ships met them. He went to the com and told them to stand down. When they landed on planet he directed them to their quarters and left to attend to his business.

"Liya, lets go for a walk, I want to talk to you." Jaina told the girl.

"How old are you?" Jaina asked her once they were alone on a nice path through a garden behind the Inn.

"15, in a sense." The small fire haired girl answered. "Have the other's told you about my...pervious engagements?"

"Zekk gave a brief re-cap." Jaina said, looking distant as she thought of Zekk. "I'm 16 and he's...about 18." The last part was a whisper.

"You two are beautiful together. It's wonderful to see that again. In all this time I've never actually married. Once, almost. We were just too busy to settle down. But I had three children. Two boys, twins and a little girl. I would have married and had more but I died."

"What was his name?" Jaina asked. Liya smiled with a look of mischief in her eyes.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi. He was such a dear. I was Shine` Kenobi. But to most I was 'Kenobi's witch'."

"What did you name your children? What were they like? How old were you when you died? Them? Was Kenobi older than you were?" Jaina had a million questions.

"We named them Qui and Gon and my little girl was Cethryn. The twins were Obi-Wan's children, always into mischief and always in trouble. Cethryn was my girl and was small, kind, more patient then I'll ever be. It was as long as I ever lived, I was about 39. They were almost 14 and 11. He was about a year younger than me." Liya said thinking of her two greatest loves.

"Since you were as good as married, what was it like," Jaina blushed,

"Being married, from my point of view, depends on who you marry." Liya smiled at Jaina and then changed the subject. "What do you think of Koty?" Liya didn't seem like a mother anymore. Jaina made a face.

"Hmm, I like him." Was the reply to Jaina's scrunched up nose.

"Don't you...well I mean what about Obi-Wan? I know he's dead but it doesn't seem like you should be getting crushes on people. I mean affairs and divorces aren't uncommon and he is dead but...you were still almost married."

"He's dead, his almost wife is dead, and I'm 15. It wouldn't be natural if I didn't have a crush on him. Everyone else is coupled off. The first few life times I didn't love anyone. I was being faithful to a dead boy. He was my first love...and you uncle has his eyes." Jaina made another face at that thought. They were now back were they started and it was getting dark. Zekk was waiting for them. He put his arm around Jaina and they all went inside.

Koty was waiting for them.

"You must come to the dance tonight." He said, then whispered. "To avoid suspicion and to make to friends." He secretly hoped they'd change their minds about the resistance, he'd hate to kill them.

"We always have the best times." A girl came up and grabbed Koty's arm. She smiled playfully at Jacen.

"Katie, these are some new recruits. They helped me escape from those who had captured me. Jacen, Jaina, Lowie, Lusa, Raynar, Zekk, Tenel Ka, Liya, Anakin, Tahiri, MTD, meet my sister Katie."

"Hi." Jacen and Jaina said in unison.

"Greetings." Tenel Ka nodded. They all said hello to Katie and headed off to the main building. It was loud. Everyone was dancing. Some were human and some were not. Lusa even saw other centauriformed beings. The Young Jedi Knights just stood there watching. A metal sounding music was playing with heavy drums and hard strings. It seemed to be a free for all, no steps no organized pattern. They stuck out horribly. All except Liya. She seemed to blend right in she moved the way the others did. It wasn't uniform, they all had their own styles. Koty had disappeared into the crowd. Katie had stayed with Jacen.

"Come on, don't tell me Jedi can't dance!" Liya shouted over the music.

"You're Jedi?" Katie said shocked. They all looked at Liya, they had wanted to keep that secret. She just smiled at them.

"Uh, yeah." Jacen shrugged. "We were gonna be but it didn't work out. Koty had a better offer." Katie started dancing and so did Anakin and Tahiri. They caught on almost as fast as Liya did.

"Travelers have to adapt to all kinds of environments and cultures. We have to learn quick with some."

Jacen started to. Tenel Ka almost cracked a smile at him. It took him awhile to catch on. The others joined in, Zekk last.

"Zekk!" Jaina cried in surprise, "You're good!"

"I used to hear this one all the time on Coruscant. Street kids always throw the best parties!" He laughed. Jacen just about had the idea down when the song changed. This one had a shaky sound to it at the light flashed all over the place. The moves changed, now the mild hip swing changed to heavy hip shaking and partners were all over each other. Anakin and Tahiri made faces.

"Is there a junior dance?" Anakin asked. Most 14 years might not have minded as much, but Anakin wasn't into partying, especially not like this. Katie laughed and moved closer Jacen. He didn't know what to do. He wasn't going to dance like that and certainly not with a complete stranger. Cute but no. Tenel Ka maybe...

Tenel Ka did save him. She came up to Jacen and started talking to him politely and Katie backed off. She and Jacen started dancing. They weren't as attached as the other couples but it gave Katie the point. Jaina and Zekk didn't hold back. Even though Liya and Katie didn't have partners they still danced.

The music changed again. It was a mix aimed to please everyone. The Young Jedi Knights had a good time. Koty managed to introduce them to the contact even though Katie followed them almost everywhere. The contact was Ishany.

"Great." She said and led them out of the dance hall. They followed her down several allies. Once they were inside Zekk asked,

"Why do you trust Koty? He could be setting you up." Ishany shook her head.

"No, family never betrays family. He's my cousin. I'm more worried about the children. I don't understand why this has happened. Radical groups from both sides have put the children in danger. They stole our youngest and we stole there's but the world is falling apart. I don't know if any of us are going to get out alive. If they would just agree to our compromise it would bring our people together."

"What's the compromise-" Jaina started.

"Ana, do you feel it?" Zekk asked Liya suddenly. She nodded, but she was staring at him wide eyed. Soon the other Young Jedi Knights knew what they were talking about a cold wave of darkness and evil passed over the force.

"There's some thing else behind all this."Anakin said eerily.

"The Sith." Liya hissed. "They are here, they are here!" Her eyes seemed to glow with a green fire.

"The who?" Ishany asked. (No, that's a band.but not The Band)

"The Sith..?" Jaina said. "Liya are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Yes." Zekk agreed.

"Yep." Anakin said. "The Force says so."

"Oh my! The Sith? We're doomed!" MTD exclaimed.

"WHO ARE THE SITH?" Ishany cried.

"Usually a particularly nasty bunch of characters, travel in two's, use the force for evil, follow certain evil teachings, were out to destroy all Jedi but destroyed themselves to a point.oh and they like wearing black." Jacen said.

"Oh, them! There's a whole colony of them right over there." She said pointing. The Young Jedi Knights just stared at her for a moment.

"Great!" Tahiri cried, "The last Sith stronghold and we walk right into it. Great Bontha!"

"Perhaps it would be a wise course of action to leave immediately." MTD said nervously.