Innocent Pasts Pave Guilty Futures (Flashback)

[Sreeya]

It was evening on Empress Teta, the last rays of the sun glinting off the Sage Halls. The place was truly astounding, and the resonating beauty all around her made her feel at home. Nevertheless, she felt out of place for the darkness that tainted her mind. She often found herself thinking of the Sith Lord she had run away from. Was he haunting her footsteps? Was he out looking for her? Andraste often caught herself looking over her shoulder.

Jhon was the only man she had truly come to know among the Jedi. The other padawans hadn't taken to her, as they had picked up something off about her. When she did not train with Jhon, she had always wandered by herself. Jhon did not look over her or hound her steps to ensure she was never out of line. It was strange having this new type of master that allowed her so much freedom. She was still having trouble kicking the habit of calling him Lord instead of Jhon.

12-year-old Andraste was currently outside of the Sage Halls. The grounds were quiet, the padawan training done for the day. There were still others inside, but they were of higher rank. She was sitting outside on the back of the building, on the grass. She sat in a garden, hidden behind some bushes as she carefully painted a red flower on the wall. Andraste worked diligently, muttering to herself the Jedi Code as she worked to draw a beautiful dahlia.

 

[Rev]

Endar's pace was much quicker than normal. He wasn't quite sure what had him in such a hurry, but his feet carried him through the temple with grace, none-the-less. His training saber clicked with familiarity to his side. He had actually added a piece to the hilt to make sure it made the noise when he wanted it to. As his feet carried him, his mind wandered.

"Eight Paths to Transcend the Darkside.."

His mind was engulfed in the thought, processing the different pieces Jhon had spoken of. Then as the thoughts rushed in he was hit with something different, something strange.. something dark. His head raised to look around the courtyard he had found himself in; how he'd wandered out of the temple he wasn't quite sure on, but he was there. Scratching his head as the unique feeling began to dissipate his eyes caught glimpse of a girl not far away in the clearing.

His rather happy feet without hesitation carried him to the girl. Taking in what little information she gave off he could tell she was something of a Jedi by her robes. Then it occurred to him just who she was, the quiet girl that was often seen with Master Cordatus, his Padawan. Looking from her to the flower which was slowly developing on the side of the temple he couldn't help but raise a brow.

"What are you doing..?"

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste almost fell backwards, having been caught off guard by the presence of another. She had been caught red handed..literally. Andraste attempted to wipe the paint on the grass, but the damage had been done. She looked at the clearly suspicious look on his face, and offered a scowl in return.

"None of your business."

She returned to what she was doing, muttering under her breath and continuing to paint. However, she noticed he was still standing there. Andraste slowly turned to face him again, not rising up to stand.

"Are you just going to gawk at me like an idiot?"

Andraste finished adding the last petal, finally wiping her hands off.

"If you must know, I'm leaving a part of myself on this temple. Hundreds of padawans come and go, but few leave anything behind. I want to come back one day and find something I did."

She looked at his attire, noting that he was a padawan as well. It was her turn to quirk a suspicious eyebrow.

"What are you doing? Padawan training has been over for some time now."

 

[Rev]

Her voice lashed out at him with some surprise. He had truly expected her to be worried at being found, but instead she accused him of being in the wrong. It was.. different. Turning his head to the side as she rubbed her dirtied hands into the grass his face was forced to allow a smile to reside upon it. Smiling down at Andraste he didn't know her name, and in truth he didn't care to know it; at least not yet.

"Idiot?"

The word held in his mind as he stared back blankly at the girl. His mind raced to find an answer, but instead he looked like.. well a bigger idiot. That smile which resided on his face only grew as he laughed and brought his hand to his head to scratch it.

"Umm.. no?"

As she allowed herself to continue he took a breath of relief, simply glad she moved on to another subject. Listening to her talk about leaving her mark he couldn't help but contemplate the idea in his own mind.

"..and, what if it isn't there..?"

His smile faded as he wondered what her response would be. Looking from her to the drawing a smirk began to form before stalling out. As her question sank in he began to search for his own answer.

"I-..I do not know. I was walking, you see? Then I started to get this thought in my head about something Master Cordatus had lectured.."

He began to ramble on before realize his story was going no where, stopping himself only to look Andraste in the eyes.

"..that's when I ran into you."

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste only grinned at his question.

"I'd know that it was once here. And since you caught me in the act, you would know it was once here. So now there's me and a witness."

She finally rose to stand, wiping the grass off herself. Her padawan clothing was quite stained from being in the grass so often. It was something that constantly got her light chiding, though it was always good natured. Andraste perked up as he mentioned her Master's name.

"Master Cordatus? He's my Master too! I wonder if this means we'll have to fight to kill one another to see who stays."

She lingered on the thought, blinking curiously. Andraste rubbed her chin for a moment before shrugging.

"Never mind, that may just be the Sith."

Andraste strode up to him and confidently extended out a muddy hand for him to shake, smiling widely.

"I am Andraste! What's your name?"

The dynamic shift in personality would tip him off that she wasn't exactly with it.

 

[Rev]

Her answer was just as unique as she had been. Had he expected anything but his expression wouldn't have held surprise. Shaking his head some he could only laugh in acceptance.

"..Should Irr'Tay find out we could both be in for it.."

He of course was speaking of the Archive Master. The old hag had been notorious for marking up Padawans for various acts which would otherwise be deemed meaningless. He of course only joked of such things expressing some laughter in hopes of Andraste joining in. At her mentioning a fight for Cordatus he couldn't help but laugh, thinking it was a joke before realizing her seriousness.

"It would sadden me to have to kill you, but if it was necessary.."

His voice held a bluntness to it that spoke honesty, yet his sarcastic attitude hinted at so many other things. Breaking his expression he'd laugh as she blinked in curiosity. She was an odd one, the other Padawans were telling no lies when they said she was different. The extension of her muddy hand surprised him, the bursting smile putting one on his own face.

"Endar Rhetor.."

His green eyes gazed back into her own, the energy which emanated from her was different than any other Padawan he'd felt. The warming aura sent chills up his forearms and down his spine. Shaking his head some as if to snap out of the feeling as he released her hand his voice again poised a question.

"Where were you during Youngling training? I never saw you.. at least until not long ago..."

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste simply blinked at him, observing how much he smiled and laughed. It was strange, as her old Master had often punished her for smiling at all. She was lost in thought, suddenly pulled out of her reverie when he spoke. Andraste couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow.

"Endar?.. Forgive me if I think of ewoks when I hear that name."

She wiped her hands on her robes, smearing more dirt and mud on them. Andraste gingerly stepped out from the grass, deciding to start walking away from the temple. She expected him to come along. It was suspicious enough for them both to be out, and if they were caught they would have to reiterate the code, write lines and other tedious punishments she had often been given. Andraste pondered on his question for a long moment.

"Well...I was just in a different place as a youngling. My training was...different than what is done here."

It was clear that she was uncomfortable. Andraste cleared her throat, almost skipping in step. It had been a habit she had before meeting Exodeus, one he constantly patronized her for, so she had stopped. Here, she was free to skip as much as she pleased.

"Have you seen much of the galaxy outside of the Jedi temples?"

 

[Rev]

Her words were unlike anything he'd heard before, they struck him more than they should have and his reaction was to give the strange girl a look. As his mind wrapped around the idea of his name being that of an Ewok's he shook his head.

"An.. Ewok?"

He truly didn't know what they were, he'd heard of them in passing before. Someone had told him to think of a teddy bear, but any alien species to be compared to such would have to be a joke. Scratching his head again in discomfort he would share an awkward laugh.

"..like, the bear?"

His comment held more curiosity in it than fact. He was more concerned if what he had heard was true about the Ewoks, were they truly bears? Maybe he could find one. The thought escaped his mind as quickly as it entered as more questions escaped Andraste's lips. Watching her walk away he held his ground for some time before finally following.

"Different..?"

The thought lingered as he walked behind her a few feet. His initial idea was that she wasn't on Empress Teta during her training, maybe Tython or Coruscant. He had originated on Tython, and it was different.. But her voice held something behind it he wasn't familiar with, but it told him her past wasn't that of a Jedi. Instead of pressing the subject the young mind did something that even surprised him. He pushed it aside and remembered what his Master said about meditation and patience, now was not the time to bring up such things.

As she began to skip it caught his attention. Something about her was unique, her movements were unlike other Padawans, her actions were unlike the others he'd met, and above all else her personality didn't fit in with any of the others. Quickening his pace as she began skipping ahead he'd find himself in a footrace beside her.

"I've traveled across the galaxy with Master Bulk several times.. Nal Hutta, Dantooine, Coruscant, Tython.."

His thoughts wandered as he tried to remember various missions he had been on and other errands the Jedi had put him to. The countless memories would fill his mind before he'd retract them, allowing his senses to naturally take over and begin their search for.. anything. It was the Force that guided her to Andraste, he could feel it.. The Force emanated from her like heat from the sun. Closing his eyes he tried to relax in the moment, unsure as to what exactly Andraste was..

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste paused and thought for a moment.

"Um.. I think it's like a bear. Like one of those tiny fuzzy ones, only they run around and potentially eat people. Mind you, I haven't had the misfortune of meeting one. They're on this planet called Endor, which sounds like your name."

She hummed after her long explanation, her skipping letting her come across a large pond that extended out near the halls. Andraste also saw a series of rocks that led up to a small island, big enough for just a handful of people. She walked to the edge of the pond and jumped up, landing expertly on the first stone. She kept her balance, glancing back at him.

"Those don't count! Have you ever traveled alone?"

Andraste grinned smugly.

"I have. It's loads of fun. No rules, no one nagging at you, no one to caution you, no nothing. Just you and whatever you wanna do!"

She skipped backwards, landing on the next rock.

"Admittedly, it wasn't long before I wound up in an orphanage. That's where Master Jhon found me. I bet you were always at the temples, huh?"

 

[Rev]

He thought back to a story his father had told him as a boy. It had been about the Imperials and how they had lost a final battle on Endor to the Alliance. They had somehow managed to win and it was the images of the bears tearing apart Imperial's that flashed into the boy's mind. Razor sharp claws cutting through the denser stormtrooper armor with savage precision. His face nearly grimaced at the thought, but he managed to keep a 'cool' face.

"Th-.. they eat people?"

His face had contorted to something of rather disgust. Shaking the thought and the face away his mind had wandered onto another story his father had told him growing up.

"..what of the slug men? Have you heard of them..?"

He watched as Andraste leaped from one rock to another, following in suit.

"Huts they call them.. ..I think.. because they'll get as fat as one! A hut.. that is.."

He had never been too good at joke, always clarifying the answer for the 'dumb' ones. Laughing some to himself as he finally came down on the grassy island.

"Well.. there was my home planet, I had parents.."

He drifted into thought, it saddening him some that they had given him away; but knowing it was for the better. They had told him so, so had the Jedi, and it in truth had made the most sense.

"..I dont remember where it was.. or what it was called. But I was often alone there."

He paused to grin at her.

"What did you lose? You bet.. So.. what did you lose?"

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste's eyes widened.

"I bet...um..water! Here, take it!"

With that, she leaned down and splashed some water directly back at him, laughing as she did so. Andraste turned and hopped two more stones before he could catch up, turning around to grin widely.

"Well, staying alone while your parents are gone doesn't count either!"

She thought for a moment, her eyes suddenly glinting.

"Boy have I got a story for you! I once went to this planet called Plantooine all by myself. It's way out in the outer rim, you see, so you won't find it on any records."

Andraste cleared her throat.

"So it was this really, really deep forest. I could hear things all around me. There were big, red eyes and then razor sharp claws! AND THEN IT CAME RIGHT AT ME!"

She jumped back, looking behind him, her eyes wide with terror.

"It was a CRATE DRAGON! It had these mean, sharp edges and it was shaped like this giant box. I had never seen anything like it. I was running and running and running, but the Crate Dragon wouldn't give up! I grabbed my lightsaber.."

Andraste paused and looked at him.

"See, the lightsaber fell from a JEDI MASTER that was eaten by this Crate Dragon. The Crate Dragon opened his box mouth to shut me inside. I took the saber and whoosh!"

She swung in mid air, almost falling off the rock in the process. Andraste spun around and faced him again.

"...stabbed him right in the mouth! He gave this almighty roar and fell into four pieces!"

Andraste finally reached the small island, plopping down on the grassy patch. Her eyes were wide.

"I hope you take your saber lessons seriously..it might save you from a Crate Dragon one day."

 

[Rev]

The sudden splash of water nearly sent him to the watery depths, but some lucky balance and bend of the ankle kept him from such a fate. Before he could even recover his sight was met with Andraste's tail end hopping away once more. Thinking on his feet he'd quickly yell back at her in defense.

"..I went into the city alone! A LOT!"

Jumping from his place he pushed himself to catch up to her. The words which poured from her lips attracting him more-so to the 'chase.' Each step he took drew him closer to her and her story. As she gazed back at him in horror his attention had been caught and with it came error. The rock he had eyed was only inches further than he anticipated, the brown boot instead plummeting into the shallow, but cold water. Being sucked in more than surprised him, it tripped him. Their final location only being feet away he instead met murky pond. Rising up from the depths and onto land his ears were met with not only by his own laughter, but his voice.

"Liar!"

He spat the word from his lips before crawling to his feet. He'd look at her for a long second before shaking his head.

"I don't believe you.. Where's it now?"

He crossed his arms and puffed up his chest looking at her sternly. He of course was referencing anything, a trophy, the lightsaber, her lightsaber.. Anything.

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste yelped as he fell into the water, splashing her with it.

"Eww EWW!"

She grimaced, looking down at the drenched hems of her robes. Never mind that she had been covered in dirt and mud, a splash of water was absolutely unacceptable. However, she couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Endar pathetically peeling himself back onto the ground, fully drenched. Her laughter was soon replaced with a scowl as he accused her of lying.

"What?! I'm not a liar! How rude.."

She thought for a moment about proof. How could she prove that she had been on the made up planet called Plantooine? Andraste quickly reached into her pocket, whipping out a flower she had on her. She had plucked it from one of the small gardens deep within the sage halls. It had been from the Council quarters, somewhere she wasn't allowed. She had been there only when Jhon had brought her before them. Andraste grinned, holding up the flower.

"Of course I didn't have time to gather proof, but this is from Plantooine. See, it only grows there. If you eat this flower, you become the strongest Force user in the galaxy!"

She nodded in agreement to her own words. Andraste dipped her toe into the water.

"Did you know that Ganggangs live under water? They live in underwater cities and come up to snatch up anyone that misbehaves. I bet there are some under this pond! I wonder how many younglings have been snatched up.."

 

[Rev]

Standing in his wet form he couldn't help but feel a bit more chilly after the effects of the splash. Watching as Andraste looked over herself, he'd never seen someone react to water in such a way.. As if she were scared to melt if it'd touch her. Smirking at the thought which came over him he blurted out his next statement.

"Nightsister Witch!"

He paused for only a moment to splash some more water at her before screaming out his next question.

"..Scared to melt?"

As they settled and she began her search for 'proof' he couldn't help but look around at where they had found themselves. His eyes first gazed at his reflection in the pond, with Andraste next to him. In the eyes of the water he appeared to be the dark one, the perplexed one, the unstable one. Time could not warn them for whatever was to come, the Force could only guide them. Staring outward as his thought faded he stared at the flower, unsure of it he reached out to take it.

"..why haven't you eaten it?"

She quickly moved on to a new subject, the change drawing no attention to his young mind. Going back from his sight on Andraste to the water his eyes again gazed at the reflection, wondering about the creatures... or species she spoke of.

"There was Syntho.."

He paused to look from the water to her, his face holding quite the serious expression.

"..she..he.. well, it.. disappeared. Some said the Council sent it to exile, but... maybe-"

He gulped down before continuing.

"...maybe the Ganggangs got him.. I mean, it..."

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste scoffed at him.

"Silly, I haven't eaten it because I'm already the most powerful Force user in the galaxy."

She twirled the flower between her fingers.

"When I get older and get married to my prince charming, I'll let him eat it, so we're both the strongest Force users in the galaxy."

Andraste grinned at the thought. Her fairytale story sounded much more fun than the ones she read. She looked at him as he spoke of Syntho, gasping at the name.

"I remember! I heard a lot about Syntho. It did weird things to all the other padawans. I came across a few of them crying. I hope the Ganggangs did get it."

She scowled at the lake.

"Still...I'd rather be snatched up by a Ganggang than a Fusia.."

Andraste shuddered.

"It's everywhere..always watching..always waiting.."

She blinked at him in terror, lowering her voice.

"I heard it follows you everywhere. That's why we need to stick together. Pals for life?"

She extended her hand for him to shake on the agreement.

 

[Rev]

Listening to her his face contorted into a smile at her mentioning of being the strongest Force User in the galaxy. His immediate thoughts were to the Jedi Council and the Masters who trained them. Raising a brow he put forth the question that was running rampant within his mind.

"If you are so strong.. why are you still a Padawan?"

Watching her twirl and dance around made him feel a bit awkward. He simply stood and watched, unsure really how to participate. She was different and it interested him more than anything else the Temple had ever brought him.

"Wont it go bad?"

He thought about eating a flower and got grossed out, the thought of eating an old flower grossed him out even more. As she continued on about Fusia he agreed by nodding. Endar had once heard of the pesky poodoo, he only hoped he'd never have to encounter it.

"Pals!"

He'd reach out and firmly grasp her wrist, glad he no longer had to look over his shoulder in regards to the many annoyances the Universe plagued them with.

 

[Sreeya]

---​

"Okay, obviously I'm doing it wrong. I made the cut ten times worse than it was."

It had been a few months since she had met Endar. The two had been virtually inseparable since, always looking out for another in case the Fusia jumped out from behind the bushes. Their ridiculous stories grew all the more outlandish as they spent more time together, only working to make them much more paranoid of the universe than the average Jedi.

After a day of training, Andraste had managed to get a cut on her knee. She was outside of the Sage Halls, inspecting the wound. Her first attempt to heal it worked horribly, and she ended up making it worse. Andraste stared at it gloomily.

"I'll never be able to go on a mission like this! And if I go to a Master he'll just tell me to 'have faith and use the Force' to heal myself."

She glanced up at Endar.

"There's no way you're as terrible at this as I am. Will you try?"

 

[Rev]

He laughed. It had taken a few days for him to understand Andraste's personality, but it was unlike any other he had ever met. She was a free spirit, unchained to the Jedi lifestyle as many were. But, what he had noticed most was that he didn't need to talk much for her to get on her way. As he watched her inspect her wound he almost could feel the question waiting to spring out and instead began to focus his Force Energy.

"..You know, not every Master will pass you off, Andraste.."

He smiled at her before grinning as he stood above her.

"Master Rhetor..."

The words rolled off his tongue as he too inspected her wound, smiling down at it. Looking from the wound to her a sly smirk would graze his young face.

"..the guidance you seek is within yourself, Andraste! You simply must believe and follow the guidance of the Force to he-.."

His words would break into laughter as his Jhon Cordatus impression came to a failure. He had tried his best to hold the sternness the elder Jedi held. Hovering his hand over her knee he'd gently lower it to a rest on her patella. As it rested a cooling sensation would come over himself, extending outward and wrapping itself around his friend's wound before it closed a small scar laying in its wake.

His hand would remove from her knee and fatigue would immediately strike down to his core. Taking in a deep breath he hadn't realized the sweat which had formed on his head and brow, beads dripping to the earth below. Resting on a knee and hand he peaked up at Andraste to go wide-eyed, as if there were an 'unsatisfying surprise' behind her. Pointing his hand out he shouted the word which he knew to strike fear to her core..

"FUSIA!!!"

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste scowled at him as he assumed the identity of Jhon. As he spoke the generic words of a Jedi Master, she couldn't help but audibly groan. The 'inner strength' schpeel drove her nuts every time, and it was a shock she hadn't lashed out at one of the teachers by now. They appeared to think that every problem could be solved by faith and hope. Her darker mood was lifted when Endar burst into laughter, failing at the impression. She smiled and watched him curiously as he got to work healing her.

"I wonder why you know this so well. You're too chicken to ever get hurt.."

She playfully shoved him after he had finished. Andraste inspected the fully healed wound and her eyes widened with disbelief. She had a suspicion that the reason she failed at it was because it took a lot of positive emotions to heal properly. She had a lot of darkness within her, which made healing ineffective. She was about to enlighten Endar about this realization when he abruptly looked behind her in terror. She looked at him in confusion.

"Wha-"

"FUSIA!"

"WHAT?!?! AAAH!"

Andraste jumped to her feet, and promptly toppled over. She took Endar down with her, rolling them both down a small hill. Andraste didn't know how to stop the momentum, each attempt to get up only making it worse. The two would roll till they both landed in a thick patch of mud. Andraste quickly lifted her face, spitting some of it out. She wiped some of the mud off her face, still looking at Endar, completely unaware that he had played a trick on her.

"Where is it?!"

 

[Rev]

"Never get hurt?"

The thought ran through his head as Andraste brought out the idea. Like he had never gotten hurt, half of his injuries through their short time together were dispersed by none other than her. His initial reaction was to brush it aside, but instead he brought the thought to fruition.

"Never get hurt!?! What about the Wingmaw's on Tython?!"

He laughed at the thought of the carnivorous 'bats' chasing them through the mountains. It was entertaining to say the least, but fear was the only emotion he could truly recall. Looking at his right forearm the scar from teethmarks were more than evident. Smiling at them he looked back to Andraste only to get body slammed from her reaction to the Fusia, one he didn't quite expect.

They toppled, turned, and contorted into a mess of teenage bodies before finally plopping into the mud with an audible splat. Laying on his back he fought to get himself out of the mud before the familiar suction noise of flesh escaping muck cried out. Laughter began filling his lungs at the sounds and only continued as Andraste spat out the nasty dirty. As she pleaded for the Fusia's existence he couldn't help but hold his stomach, his eyes swelling up some with tears.

"Fear I sense in you! Ooooo-hoo-hoo!!"

Squelching out the best Yoda impression the boy could muster it sounded like a failed Hutt, but the point came across. Trying his best to get to his feet he'd slip in the mud some before looking around, somewhat in confusion.

"What'd you get us into now?"