The Chronicles of Marna Veign, an original fan fic

[4C-696E]

Tahsh began to smile, but noticed that Tau-Jay's expression turned even more stern.

"Maybe the captain did find out what I did." she thought.

"Now to more serious matters." Tao-Jay looked over to Inga, whose smile faded. This was really serious for Inga's grin to fade.

"We've received a communique from Neuterian's Queen Scathia." Inga started. "For the past three months, someone has been getting into the Royal Palace at the capital city, Cavalet, and has been committing acts of sabotage. The Royal Family tightened security, but that didn't stop the saboteur. Then one day ago, during King Agmel's fiftieth birthday celebration, he was murdered. Queen Scathia fears for her life, and the life of Crown Prince Imalka. She has requested Jedi protection and assistance in finding the assassin."

Tahsh let the information sink in. Protect the Royal Family, and find the assassin. Potentially dangerous, but she felt she could do it. A Padawan could be useful for this mission.

"When do I leave?" she asked, feeling ready to go.

"In one hour." Tau-Jay told her. "The Jedi Knight Heracious Cahn will be leaving on a mission of his own, and has agreed to drop you off at Neuterian. Collect your Padawan and be at the landing platform no later than one hour. May the Force be with you."

Tahsh bowed, noticing the look on Inga's face. At least one of the council members believed in her, but then, Master Sjari could be a little prejudice.

"You may want to look for young Marna at the Room of a Thousand Fountains." Inga said before Tahsh could leave. "I instructed her to meditate, and I know she enjoys going there."

"Thank you, Master Sjari." Tahsh said.

She gave a slight nod to her Master and left. She had to find this Marna Veign girl and let her know she would be leaving the Temple with her.

[glow=red,2,300]Ch 2 section 6[/glow]

[Man in Black]

This is so cool

I really liked the duel also.

Now I can't wait to find out Marna's reaction.

[4C-696E]

Marna sat on a bench in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. She had often come to this bench situated not two meters from the water to relax and talk with friends, but now, no friends were near. She preferred it that way. Though she had been trying to find her center of peace as Master Sjari told her to, she was still so consumed with worry about Ian, and fear of him, she didn't want her friends around. A Jedi shouldn't fear, and she believed her friends would tease her. Marna couldn't keep his face out of her mind. There was more than anger in his uninjured left eye. It was more like . . .rage.

She heard someone approaching, and she looked up to see the woman Jedi that had watched the duel with Kane Elandin.

"Marna Veign?" the woman asked.

"Yes. I am Marna." she replied, wanting to be left alone.

"I was told you'd be in here somewhere, but this is a big place. I'm glad to have found you at last. I'm Tahsh Hapay. I saw you duel for Kane Elandin." Tahsh felt the emotions going through Marna. She sat beside her, thinking of how she should proceed.

Marna lowered her head and turned away from Tahsh, afraid that her expression would betray her feelings. Whatever Tahsh was here about, Marna did not want to appear weak. Tahsh picked up on this.

"Marna, I know how you feel about what happened to the boy. Things like that happen."

"How could you know?" Marna said simply.

"I know better than you think, young one." Tahsh paused a moment. "I can feel your fear and concern for him, Marna. Don't hold onto it, or it can ruin your life. Allow yourself to feel the emotion, then let it go."

Marna stopped fighting her worry and fear, allowed those emotions to be felt for a couple of minutes, and afterwards they were not so strong inside her.

"Feel better now?" Tahsh asked. Marna nodded.

"A little. After this, nobody will want to teach me." the girl announced sadly.

"That's not true." Tahsh told her. Marna looked Tahsh in the eyes.

"Who would want to teach a girl that can't even control her emotions?" Tahsh sighed. There was so much this girl needed to learn.

"Marna, I want you to know something. Emotions are a tricky thing. No being can control what emotion comes up. I can't control it, Kane wants others to believe that he can control it, but he can't. Ian Crabis can't control it. What we need to work at is what we do with the emotions once they come up. Do you ignore it? Do you push it down inside you? Those choices lead to about the same conclusion. If you ignore the emotion, stuff it inside and refuse to feel it, it will consume you. Another choice is this. Feel the emotion, as you have been taught. Once it has been felt, you can let it go. Understand?"

Marna wasn't sure she did. It was easier to say those things than to do it. But she nodded anyway.

"And as for nobody wanting you, I say it isn't true, because I would like you to be my Padawan Learner."
This took Marna by surprise.

"What did you say?" she asked, not sure she heard things right.

"You heard what I said." Tahsh confirmed. "I would like you to be my apprentice, Marna. Will you?"

When Marna was silent, Tahsh spoke again.

"We have limited time, Marna. I must be at the landing platform in twenty minutes to leave on an official mission for the Jedi Council. I would like you to be with me, but..."

"I would be honored to be your apprentice." Marna said at last.

"Let's get your stuff. I'll explain about our mission on the way."

As Marna led Tahsh Hapay to her room, Tahsh told her about their mission to protect what's left of the Royal family and help the local security investigate the murder. As Marna gathered her gear, Tahsh looked at her chrono.

"Great stars, not again. Come, Marna. We must run." Tahsh told her.

"But, Master, running is against the rules of the . . ."

"We can't be late." Tahsh interrupted. "Come on. If we're caught, I'll take all the responsibility."

As Tahsh began to run, Marna sighed and ran after her. She had little choice but to follow. Tahsh was her Master now, and she knew she had to obey.

[glow=red,2,300]Ch 2, sect 7[/glow]

[Man in Black]

Great writing in that segment, I really enjoyed that.

[4C-696E]

Glad you're liking this so far. This part has my favorite line in it.

When they arrived at the Justice, Jedi Knight Heracious Cahn was pacing near the boarding ramp. They slowed to a walk just as they neared the ship. He looked like a kind man to Marna, though his expression turned stern when he saw them.

"Tahsh Hapay and apprentice, I presume." he said as they neared the ship.

"Yes." Tahsh told him. "This is Marna Veign."

"You do realize you got here with just one minute to spare? And running is against Temple rules. If there was time, I would likely report that infraction to the Council, Tahsh." he pointed out, though Marna doubted he would.

"I am well aware of the rules, Heracious Cahn. I do know them by heart."

Tahsh turned to Marna and spoke quietly to her while Heracious turned to lead them into his ship.

"If you don't know the rules, you can't break them properly." she said with a smile and a wink.

"I beg your pardon?" Heracious asked, turning back to them.

"Nothing." Tahsh replied innocently. "Shall we go?"

Heracious walked up the ramp, shaking his head slightly and smiling. He heard what she said to the young Padawan, and from what he knew about Tahsh, it was the sort of 'Jedi wisdom' she would want to pass on. He had been told that trouble always seemed to follow Tahsh, and most of it was caused by her. Everyone knew. He led his two passengers to their seats and before long, they were on their way to Neuterian.

[glow=red,2,300]Ch 2, sec 8[/glow]

[Man in Black]

That's a great line, it reminds me of a quote my English professor and my Journalism instructor instilled into us... I can't remember it word for word but it was something like - "Know the rules before you break them."

[4C-696E]

I really enjoyed writing that part. Sets up more the character of Tahsh.

[4C-696E]

As the Justice flew through hyperspace, Marna sat staring out a viewport. This was her first time away from Coruscant since she had arrived there for Temple training. She found she was missing her friends and the only home she knew.

Tahsh walked over to Marna and sat next to her, not sure what to say. So much was going through her mind. She was a Jedi, yet had her first Padawan breaking the rules of the Temple within the first hour of them being together.

She decided to focus on the young girl. She had to form a bond with her somehow, but Marna hadn't said three words since boarding the ship. Tahsh tried to remember what Inga Sjari would do in this situation. But Tahsh had never put Inga in this situation. She had always been open to her master.

"You miss them already." she stated to Marna, taking a guess.

"I didn't get to say goodbye." Marna answered sadly.

"I know it's hard to leave there. Especially since it's the only home most of us remember. And I'm sorry there was no time for farewells. We will return after we're done on Neuterian. You will see them again, I'm sure."
Marna continued to stare quietly out the viewport. Tahsh had to get her talking openly.

"Was Ian Crabis a friend of yours?" Tahsh asked.
Marna tensed up at the sound of his name.

"Why do you ask?" the girl asked.

"I could tell you were very concerned about him during the duel."

Marna continued to stare out the viewport, but seemed more willing to talk now.

"He and I never hung out together like I did with my other friends." Marna told her. "In fact, many students thought we hated each other, but that wasn't true. We respected each other. We'd sparred many times, using the other as practice to improve our skills. I wanted to beat him, he wanted to beat me, and because of that, we were among the best. When Kane Elandin came for a Padawan, we both thought Ian would get it. Master Elandin was Ian's last chance to become a Jedi. Then I learned I would be in the duels. I didn't think I would go against Ian. I didn't mean to hit his face. Then he went after me like that. I never saw such hatred before in anyone. He was too strong for me."

Marna's voice cracked as the fear threatened to return. Tahsh gently placed her fingers under Marna's chin and turned her head so she could look in her hazel eyes.

"Remember what I told you earlier, Marna. None of us can choose our emotions. But, we can choose how we deal with our feelings. Ian Crabis was hurt. He was frustrated. He choose to lash out, calling on his anger and the dark side. He caught you off guard. It is his anger that ruined his chances to be selected, Marna. Not you beating him in the official duel."

"You don't know what it's like having such a good friend come after you like Ian did to me." Marna stated, turning away.

"Don't I? There's so much you don't know yet, Marna. I was once in a position almost exactly like you were with Ian. I had a good group of friends. There was Kane Elandin, Geisha Heris, Jonathan Dartanus, and Johnny's friend. I don't remember his name. We always called him 'Dee'. Anyway, Johnny was older than the rest of us, and his thirteenth birthday was coming up. Then, we heard that Inga Sjari was coming to select an apprentice. I dueled Johnny while Inga watched. It went on a long time, but I finally won, fair and square. I didn't hurt Johnny badly, but he too had anger inside him. Inga was his last chance. He charged at me with as much anger as Ian did you, but I didn't have time to draw my lightsaber. I rolled backward and flipped him behind me. His head hit a block, and he went unconscious. I really felt bad about that. Probably the same way you feel about Ian. Inga talked to me and helped me realize it was self-defense. It was Johnny's fault he got hurt, not mine. She agreed to train me to become a Jedi Knight."

"What happened to Johnny?" Marna asked, interested in the story.

"At lunch that day, Dee told us that Johnny was okay, but angry at me. He and Dee were sent to Alderaan, and I went away with Inga. A few years later, I learned that they died in a fire at the facility they were assigned to. I took it hard, but I got over it. That was about ten, fifteen years ago."

Talking to Tahsh helped Marna feel better. She began to feel glad to have accepted Tahsh as a Master, despite her obvious lack of respect for rules. Tahsh stood.

"Well, we've got a good three days together before arriving at Neuterian. This ship has a lounge big enough to sparr. How about we go at it? I'd like to test you out. See what your strengths and weaknesses are, and work on a good bond between us."

Marna smiled, finally. "Let's do it."

[glow=red,2,300]Ch 2 section 9[/glow]

[Xenopaul]

this does seem like a movie, you are doing a great job wiht this 4C-696E

[4C-696E]

After three days of sparring and building a bond, Marna was glad when the Justice approached the planet Neuterian. The ship was beginning to feel cramped to her, despite the lounge area large enough to practice saber techniques. As they flew through the atmosphere, Marna sat in the flight control room with Tahsh and Heracious. She saw they were approaching the edge of a mountainous region, where a large city spread out across the valley. A good portion of the city was up on the mountain. A river flowed from the mountains through the center of the city, seeming to divide it in half.

"Cavalet." Heracious told her. "Right on the edge of the Envrionce mountains."

"I've never seen so much green." Marna commented in awe.

"Beautiful, isn't it, Marna?" Tahsh said to her. "It shows that cities don't have to take up the entire planet."

"It sure is beautiful."

Following the river into the mountains with her eyes, Marna saw four or five small lakes. One of them looked like there was a building in the center of it. As the ship flew lower, Marna saw a grand building ahead that she decided must be the Palace.
The Justice had been directed to land a few kilometers away from the palace at the spaceport. Marna saw a speeder pull up just outside the landing zone.

"Just follow my lead, Marna. And keep your comlink on whenever we're away from each other." Tahsh told Marna as they neared the ramp.

"Yes, Master. I will answer immediately." Marna responded, wanting to be a good apprentice.

Tahsh thanked Heracious Cahn for the ride, and they walked down the boarding ramp. A young man in his late twenties met them just off the landing pad. He wore a deep red uniform that had an insignia on each shoulder. The two Jedi bowed to the man respectfully.

"I am Lieutenant Avin Smyth," the man introduced himself, "second in command of His Ma . . . Her Majesty's Royal Guards." he corrected sadly, "I have been assigned to see to it you get whatever you need."

"I am Tahsh Hapay, and this is my Apprentice, Marna Veign. We will do whatever we can to help resolve this situation." Tahsh told him.

"Come. A speeder is waiting to take you to the Palace."

The Justice took off as the three climbed into the covered speeder. In the back, there were two sets of seats, positioned so the passengers could face each other. Marna sat on the forward facing seats near the passenger side door. The seat automatically adjusted to provide the best support and comfort. Marna had never thought such comfort could exist.

"Now this is comfortable." Marna said, being the first to sit.
Tahsh glared at Marna to remind her that it was inappropriate to say so, but she smiled at the girl.

"Of course," Marna quickly added, "Jedi put themselves beyond the comforts of wealth."

Tahsh sat next to Marna and had to agree with her about the comfort of the seat. Avin sat across from the Jedi and the driver took off for the Royal Palace. As the speeder began to climb the mountain road, Tahsh decided to get right to work.

[glow=red,2,300]ch 3 section 1[/glow]

[Man in Black]

I've got a bad feeling about this...

[4C-696E]

"Tell me Lieutenant Smyth, has the cause of King Agmel's death been determined?" Tahsh asked.

"Please, call me Avin. I was told King Agmel was poisoned with the Nicos poppy." he answered.

"What can you tell me about this Nicos poppy, Avin?"

"The Nicos poppy grows only in the Nicos Cauldron Nature Preserve. If dried and ground, poppy is a fatal poison. It takes an hour or two to take effect. I only know all this because the Chief Medic told me."

"An hour or two? Depending on the victim's size?" Tahsh guessed.

"Yes." came the reply.

"How big would you say King Agmel was?"

"He didn't have a lot of bulk to him, but he wasn't as thin as a rail, if you know what I mean."

"So you would say he was about average, not big, but not small."

"Yes."

Tahsh thought carefully about her next line of questions before proceeding.

"King Agmel died at the end of the feast, didn't he?" she asked.

"Yes, he did."

"How long did the meal last?"

"Just about an hour and a half."

While Avin and Tahsh were talking, Marna looked out her window at the city. The speeder had driven through the city and onto a road that lead up the mountainside toward the Palace. The view was beautiful as they climbed. Along the road there were beautiful homes with bright green plants and flowers of all shapes and colors.

Marna felt drawn to look out Tahsh's window, and she leaned forward in her seat to do so. While gazing at a home they were just passing, she thought she saw someone that seemed out of place for some reason. The person hid around one corner of the house. She did not know why this made her uncomfortable, but she knew something bad would happen.

"So, he would have been poisoned near the beginning of the banquet, or just before." Tahsh was saying.

"Something's going to happen." Marna interrupted, quickly fastening her seat restraints.

Tahsh immediately reached out with the Force and felt the disturbance Marna felt.

"Fasten your restraints!" Tahsh told Avin as she worked to fasten her own.

Before Avin could, however, there was a loud pop and blue tendrils of light played over the speeder. It crashed to the ground as the repulsor engines failed, and its momentum kept it screeching across the roadway, heading for a cliff. Before they could register the coming danger, Marna's side of the speeder hit a large tree, denting in the door. The impact tossed them away from the cliff.

When they finally came to a stop, the driver's side of the speeder was mere centimeters from the outside wall of a home. Marna noticed that Tahsh was slumped in her seat, apparently unconscious. Tahsh had only gotten partially buckled. Avin lay face-down on the floor of the speeder, not moving.

[glow=red,2,300]Ch 3, section 2[/glow]

[Man in Black]

admin said:

I've got a bad feeling about this...

I just knew it

[4C-696E]

I was actually working to split those two sections apart and edit and post it when you posted. I was going to say your instincts serve you well, but I don't think I have to now.

[4C-696E]

I think this is the last section I'll post today. Let people catch up with the updates. ;D

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Marna unfastened her restraint and went to her master.

"Tahsh, wake up! Please, tell me you're okay." she pleaded.

Tahsh groggily sat up and looked at the girl. She put her hand up to her head and winced as she found a tender spot on the left side. She knew she could not exert herself too much.

"I will be okay, Marna. Just hit my head. Are you alright?" Tahsh asked.

"Just a little sore where the restraints held, Master." she answered.

Just then, Avin moaned and tried to move. Marna helped him off the floor and onto the seat. There was a gash across his forehead that was bleeding, and he looked a little pale.

"Marna, how is the pilot?" Tahsh asked the girl.

Marna climbed forward in the speeder and leaned over the seat to check on the pilot. He was slumped over the steering device and wasn't moving. There was a bulge in the transparasteel where the pilot's head hit it.

Carefully, Marna pressed her fingers to the pilot's neck to feel for a pulse. She felt nothing. He was dead.

"He's...I don't think he's alive." Marna said, obviously upset from her first encounter with death.

"It's alright, Marna. He didn't survive, but we did and Avin did. Don't mourn when someone becomes one with the Force. Find your center and stay focused." Tahsh told her.

Marna nodded and calmed down, taking deep breaths.

"Good." Tahsh told her. "We need to get out of the speeder and get help for Avin. This door is too close to the building to be able to open. Try the other door."

Marna pulled on the release, but the door was jammed. She could see it had been crushed, likely when they hit the tree.

"It won't open." she told Tahsh.

"Is everyone okay in there?" a voice outside the speeder asked.

Tahsh looked out the tinted and cracked window of the jammed door and saw a concerned woman looking through it.

"Mostly. Our pilot didn't make it." Tahsh called out, getting a bit dizzy.

"Hold tight! We'll find some equipment to get you out of there!"

"Stand back." Tahsh told her. "We have something that can cut us out." She turned to Marna. "You need to use your lightsaber to cut the door off the speeder so we can get out."

"Got it." Marna replied, igniting her lightsaber. The beam cast a green glow to the interior.

"Be careful, Marna. Watch out for sparks." Tahsh cautioned as she began to cut.

[glow=red,2,300]ch 3 sec 3[/glow]