Ghost of Nightmares Past/Chapter 24

EPILOGUE

Sinya sat in her Council Seat, staring at her hands with tired eyes. She had just finished her Meeting for the day, and now, it was just her, sitting in the sunlit chamber, wondering why she had not told the Council about Stellandra's return, and how she was to sort this out.

What is wrong with me?

Sinya stood, and walked towards the window next to her seat, and stared out at the sunset, admiring the golds and reds that were highlighting the sky, and casting a large shadow that belonged to him onto the floor. Placing a hand on a column, Sinya took a massive deep breath in, and relaxed once her exhaled, feeling all her troubles seem to leave her in that one breath.

"Finished, the Meeting is," A familiar voice sounded, and the gimmer stick vibrated around the room as the small Jedi Master walked into the Council Room. "Why linger, do you?"

"I just can't face going back to my apartment just yet Master," Sinya admitted, turning to face Yoda. "I just don't feel...safe anymore."

Yoda's ears pricked up, and he clasped his hands over his gimmer stick. "Explain, you need to."

Sinya walked towards her seat, and sat back down, hands clasped on her knees. "There's something I didn't tell you."

Yoda's ears drooped slightly, and his expression became stern. "Hide secrets, you must not Sinya. Important, it may be."

"Yes, but I felt I should only address it to you, and only you," Sinya said, and he looked up at Yoda, seeing the disappointment in the Master's eyes for her hiding a secret. "It's...about Stellandra."

"Hm, return she has," Yoda said, and gave a deep sigh. "Knew this, I did."

"You knew?" Sinya said, eyes wide as she stared at him. "And you never told me because...?"

"Because, over-react, you will," Yoda chuckled, and pointed his gimmer stick at Sinya. "Like you are now. Crowding around you, the negative side of the Force is. Let go now."

Sinya quickly casted his negative feelings into the Force, and relaxed, leaning back into his seat. "What do you propose I do?"

"Propose nothing just yet; too weak, she is just now," Yoda hopped into his Council Seat, and crossed his small legs as best as he could. "Not ready to face us again, she is."

"So, why not strike her when she's weak?" Sinya asked, staring at him. "Why not try and take her down while she is weak?"

"Your missions just now, it is not." Yoda told him sternly. "Fighting in a War, you are. Get distracted, you must not!"

Obi-Wan nodded, and looked at his knees. "I'm sorry Master; my patience has been a bit thin recently."

Yoda chuckled, and Sinya looked at him in surprise. "Qui-Gon, proud he will be." Yoda said, giving him a rare smile. "To see you grown up, and admit your faults. Never one to do so, he was. A Great Jedi, you have become."

Sinya smiled, and struggled to hide a yawn, making Yoda chuckle. "Off to rest, you must Sinya; hard on you, Christophsis was, and returning to fight, you will be soon."

Sinya smiled gently, and got up and bowed. "Good Night, Master Yoda."

"Good Night, Padawan Kairn," Yoda said with a smile. Once the twi'lek was away, Yoda leaned back for a meditation, but something was stopping him.

Opening his eyes, he found himself staring at a kneeling Stellandra, her face half burned. He smiled. "Give you that, Sinya did?"

"Yes," She hissed, sitting cross-legged on the ground. "She did; she's more powerful than the last time we met. I guess you had something to do with that?"

"Gaining strength, she is," Yoda said hotly, trying to keep calm. "And more powerful than you last thought he was."

"Wish I could say the same about you," Stellandra jeered, her red eyes skimming his ancient frame. "You look like an exhibit now, Yoda. What a shame that you are now nothing to me."

"Nothing to say to that, I do!" Yoda said, and he was on his feet immediately, sabre out and ready. Stellandra just cackled, and her hands ignited with Force-lightning, striking the Master in the chest. Yelling in pain, Yoda was thrown back into his seat, wincing as he stared up at the Woman that was smirking down at him, sabre in her hand.

"I could finish you just now, and watch Kairn cry over your mangled Body," Stellandra sighed, staring at her sabre, wondering if she should ignite it or not. "But then, you wouldn't see what I have planned."

"Twisted, you are," Yoda gasped, getting up. "Fear for your survival, I do Old Friend."

"You should fear a lot of things Yoda," Stellandra said, walking to the door. "Like the Survival of the Jedi Order, in a month's time."

Yoda watched her, as she opened the door, but she paused, and looked back at him. "Farewell Yoda."

She was gone, and Yoda was left to pick himself up, staring at the door once more, fear crawling into his heart. He knew what she was talking about, and now, he needed to contact them immediately. Staring out the window, he could feel the shroud of the Dark Side fall over him, clouding all thought and happiness.

He knew what was coming, and when that day came...

It would be a dark one for the Jedi.