Chapter 5
The morning bell woke Dawit up. She
immediately realized she’d overslept. Frantically pulling of her nightclothes she
changed. She had to concentrate to make an image of Garret. Panting from her exertions to
create Garret, she began to put her hair up in the customary braids. She pinned them up in
a bun and grabbed her lightsaber. She raced down the hall to get to the Temple. Dawit
prayed she wasn’t late. She wanted to stay now, for her love for Obi-Wan was greater
than she ever thought it could be. Nefra stood outside the door. He motioned her to go into the room. The twelve
members of the council looked at her. They began their review with the inquiry.
“What is on the screen?”
Mace Windu asked.
“A rancor. Next will be a
landspeeder.” Dawit replied.
“The future you see?” asked
Yoda.
“Sometimes. I can’t always
tell if it is the past or the future Master Yoda.” Dawit was beginning to get
uncomfortable. She could barely maintain the image of Garret, he was slipping away fast.
Yoda continued with,
“A friend you have? One you seek
now?”
“I do not seek anyone Master
Yoda.”
“Hiding something you are.”
Yoda continued as Nefra entered the room.
“No Master Yoda, I do not hide
anything from you.” Dawit said trying her best to control her emotions and maintain
Garret’s image.
“But you do, you do.” Yoda
paused and said to Nefra, “Bring Garret here, he is the one you seek, is he
not?”
“I do not seek Garret. As I told
you before, I do not seek anyone.” Dawit was controlling her anger and frustration
with Yoda. She saw Garret being approached by Nefra in her mind’s eye. She had to
maneuver him with all her strength to walk to the Temple. Beads of perspiration ran down
her face. The concentration needed for this illusion was more than Dawit ever expected.
She thought of how Obi-Wan would be punished if the council found out he had helped hide
Garret’s true identity. There was a murmur among the council members. They had sensed
the tremors in the Force. Nefra led Garret to the council room.
“Garret and Dawit are one and
the same, are they not?” Yoda told the council. Dawit’s shock and disbelief at
being found out a second time ruined the illusion of Garret. His image dissolved in front
of the council, leaving Dawit standing there in shock and disbelief. “Hiding
something you were. Deceptive you were to us. Deception leads down the path to the Dark
Side.”
“Am I being dismissed? For
having created an alter ego that was treated better? Was treated like an equal in the eyes
of the Jedi. I can’t help that my brother had evil intentions. I’m not like him!
I not like him at all!” Dawit was so upset that she could. . .
barely breathe. Onxyi was crushing her
throat. Her lungs burned for air. Her eyes watered. Everything became hazy. She gasped,
“Please. . . Please let me
go.” Onxyi smiled and cruelly tightened his grip. He hissed to her,
“You’re not going to tell anyone what you saw, are you?” She was close
to unconsciousness. In disgust he loosened his grip enough for her to barely make an
audible whisper of,
“I won’t. I promise.”
She mercifully passed out and woke up in the dormitory. Her brother left her in her bed.
The last thing she heard him say to her was,
“You can’t tell. You
can’t tell. . .”
“. . .if she’s seeing the
past or future.” Qui-Gon said finishing Nefra’s sentence. Dawit awoke with a
start gasping for air. Concerned Obi- Wan asked,
“What happened?”
“I saw an image from my past.” Dawit said calming herself and her
breathing.
“You passed out. You’ve been unconscious for ten minutes.” Nefra
told her.
“What did the council say?” She asked, realizing she was lying down. She
started to get up, but Nefra gently pushed her back down saying,
“You need to rest. The council will decide this afternoon.”
“How long did they know I was being two people?”
“They’ve known for quite some time. At least two months I believe.”
Nefra replied.
“Where did they come from?” Dawit asked, motioning to Qui-Gon and
Obi-Wan.
“They came to help you when you passed out. You called to them. You told them
to come.” Nefra said, stroking Dawit’s hair.
“I don’t remember calling for them.” Dawit tried to gather the
thoughts she’d had before she remembered Onxyi. She’d been thinking of Obi-Wan.
Why did she call out for him? How did Qui-Gon hear her cries? Why was her memory so vivid?
She felt as if it were happening all over again. She’d suppressed the memories for
years. Why were they coming back now?
“What were you seeing?” Nefra asked.
“I told you, an image from my past.”
“Who were you seeing? Was it Onxyi?” Qui-Gon gently prodded.
“Yes, it was Onxyi. I saw the beginning.” Dawit would leave it at that.
“The beginning of what?” asked Obi-Wan.
“The beginning of. . .
a new day. She crept behind the
fountain. She ran for the Temple. Master Yoda must be told of her brother’s
intentions. The door was only a few more feet away. She could make if she ran a little
faster. Then an iron grip stopped her in her tracks.
“No!” screamed in her mind.
She was so close. How did he know?
*Why didn’t keep your promise?*
Onxyi’s voice entered her mind, a thundering sound.
She began to push his invisible hands away with the Force. Onxyi’s grip
became tighter. He pried through her mind, ripping everything out that she’d seen the
night before. He snarled, *You saw more than you said you did!* Her head hurt from the
constant hammering of Onxyi ripping out her memories.
*Please, I wasn’t going to tell, I
swear!* The rage Onxyi had towards her made her nauseous. Bile trickled up her throat. She
yelled as load as she could to make him hear her. *Please! You’re hurting me! Father
wanted you to protect me!* The feeling of light-headedness from the night before swept
through her again. She couldn’t breathe and Onxyi didn’t care if he killed her.
*The amber, Onxyi. Remember the amber.*
*Weak fool. To think I care about that
sentimental piece of rock!* His laughter filled her mind. It screamed with hate and
viciousness. *I spare you not for the sentiments, but because you’ll help me with me
plans!* As she was about to pass out, he released her throat from his invisible grasp. He dropped her body like a rock. His iron grip
still held on to her mind. *You will do what I
want, you are mine!* There was more laughter.
He pulled quickly out of her mind. It hurt so badly and it burned, oh, it burned!