JEDI NIGHTMARE - Part 1

Based on RP by Debbie Casselbury, Dana Terry, Bernadette Crumb, R.J. Miller, and Phaedra Whitlock

Coruscant. The Jedi Temple.... Alida began to relive her usual dream....The garden within the grounds was quiet, peaceful. Alida wove her way down the path toward the stone bench she favored for meditation. The soft burble of the fountains sprinkled throughout the area was the only sound she heard. Today there are no wanderers on the pathways, except one - an old woman...Master Nuria. The Nursery Master moved to the edge of the fountain, gazing up at a hawkbat soaring lazily in the sky, focusing on the beauty of it's spread wings in flight.

Alida didn't want to disturb the elderly Master, so she sat quietly on the bench as she, too, looked up at the bird, watching it circle. They both picked up on the creature's pleasure in its flight as it beat its wings upward again in search of prey. Nuria appears almost poised to lift off the ground after it, her bent body straightening, her hands lifted slightly. The hawk began to cry...Skreeeee ahhhhhhh!

Alida looked over at the fountain, not quite alarmed, but concerned as a dark smoky mist gradually began to surround the fountain area... A figure walked through it and approached them. A familiar man wearing blue and green senatorial robes. "It is a glorious day is it not?' he gushed. "The day of the predator..."

"The day of the predator?" Alida repeated. "I'm not sure I understand your meaning."

"Greetings, Alida D'Med. For a Jedi, you are not very perceptive today, are you?" he chuckled, "Do you know who I am?"

Her brows drew together wondering how he could know her name. "Yes, Senator." Alida's eyes narrow as she looked at him. "Palpatine," she said softly.

Palpatine's voice broke Nuria's concentration on the bird and she returned abruptly to her usual slightly bent stance. The old woman looked at Palpatine and then the flying creature, and quickly realized that they were one. She eyed the interloper into the garden and frowned slightly. The Senator moved around the fountain and dallies his finger along it's marble surface...

He looked over at Alida and cast her a smile. "All of this beauty surrounds you...almost makes me sad to know it'll be gone...all gone." Alida stared at him a moment as memories flood in on her. Palpatine. He'd destroyed all of this! This couldn't be real.

"Oh *yes*, lovely Jedi D'Med...my memory is clear. It was indeed, very beautiful. Too bad." She took a step away from him, realizing that someone is missing. Nuria slowly approached them, stepping to Alida's side protectively.

Palpatine looked around with a sarcastic gasp. "Oh - where have all your Jedi friends gone?" he mocked.

Alida realized it wasn't the other Jedi that concerned her - she knew what he'd done to almost everyone she'd ever known or cared about. But, her Padawan was missing.

Palpatine's soothing voice interrupted her thoughts. "Oh yes....I *know* what you're thinking -- I find it interesting that you haven't started looking for her."

Alida's head snapped up at that. "Where is she?" Palpatine chuckled softly. "Oh where oh where has my little Padawan gone...

Alida attempted to calm herself. She seemed unable to reach the girl with their usual bond...

The senator cast her a malevolent grin. "Perhaps she's with all the other Padawan children I rounded up for the kill..."

"No..." she said softly. "She wasn't even born then."

"Yes....indeed. She managed to slip through my fingers, didn't she? In fact, *both* of you did..."

Alida nodded. "You're not quite as all powerful as you'd have everyone believe."

Nuria's wizened hands moved toward her belt. Her crooked fingers brushed the silver cylinder that hung there, "It *was* you," she suddenly said in a voice without anger, only sadness. "But there were some that got away, despite you."

"Master!" Alida hissed, concerned for the woman.

Palpatine's responded with a laugh. "As a Senate official, I acted precisely the way you Jedi wanted me to....but we Sith were always there...watching your every move. Of course, there were a few Jedi that escaped ...but, now I've discovered your little secret...and I am EMPEROR..." All at once the Senator was dressed in dark robes, his aged face peering out at them under a hood.

Without hesitation, Nuria stepped protectively in front of Alida.

The evil Sith Master looked over at her with an amusing grin. "My, my...for an old and insignificant woman, you certainly are looking fierce. What did they call you - Nuria? You hope to harm me?"

"Master, no." Alida placed her hand on Nuria's shoulder.

"I won't let him harm you, child." Nuria's usual shaky voice was firm, belying her apparent physical frailty.

"Master Nuria--" Alida looked at the old woman, willing her to be calm. Her mind was still harboring concern about her missing Padawan.

Palpatine's nasty smile seemed to intensity. "Were you looking for anyone in particular? Perhaps....THIS?!?!?"

A cloudy holo appeared revealing Alida's Force pupil Kaliandra encased inside an glowing electrofield.

"Kali!" Alida gasped.

The girl didn't seem to hear her as she reached out to touch the field. It sparked wildly around her and she drew her and back pain etched across her face

Alida glared boldly at the Emperor. "Release her."

Palpatine's laughter echoed across the room. "What will you do in exchange for her?"

Alida tears her gaze from the girl back to the Emperor, shaking her head slightly.

Nuria spoke again, quietly, "Jedi do not bargain."

"Unfortunately, *that* is why they didn't survive..." Palpatine pointed out.

"The Dark Side will consume itself."

"You deceive yourself, *Jedi*!" he sneered.

Alida frowned. "No. What you are, what you have become - it cannot last forever.

"Oh but it *will*. You have been too busy playing with your little Padawan for too long. Haven't you heard? I've cloned myself. I will live forever, *Jedi* -- and so will the legacy of the Dark Side..."

Alida looked back at Kaliandra. "It's not a legacy to be proud of," she said.

"So...let me *guess*. To save your Padawan, you'll gladly trade places with her, correct?"

"Yes, of course I will!" she retorted.

The colorful sparks struck Kali's face...she felt an electrifying shock. The girl screamed and dropped to the floor her hands covering her face.

Alida sucked in a deep breath of air. "Let me take her place!"

The Emperor laughed at her predictability. Then Palpatine gaze fell upon Nuria. "And you, old woman. What will *you* do to prevent her now?"

Nuria straightened again, her blue eyes serene, a decision made. "This." The saber was suddenly in her hands and an amber blade swinging toward Palpatine.

The evil ruler glared at her as he blocked it with his left hand. "Perhaps she thinks she's as wise as Master Yoda", he mocked with a nasty cackle. "But then, he hid from me too..."

Nuria's lightsaber ricocheted from the Emperor's palm, back toward the old Jedi Master. Nuria echoed the last line as the saber flipped from her hands, twisted in mid air and cut through the space in which she stood... but she was gone.

"No!" Alida shouted. She looked up at Palpatine, her hand on her own saber. Slowly, she let it drop to the side. She wouldn't leave Kali. Not yet

Palpatine clapped his hands. "One less Jedi to deal with!"

In the holocage, Kaliandra slowly pulled herself up into a sitting position and began talking softly to herself., "There is no emotion; There is peace. There is no ignorance; There is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no death; there is The Force."

"So, Master Alida. You say you want to *exchange places* with your pupil....good."

She eyed him warily. Suddenly, Alida found herself inside a jail of electricity...Kali on stood on the outside now.

The girl blinked in shock. "Master?"

"Kali. Remember your training." Alida lifted a hand to her, knowing better than to touch the field, but realizing just how vulnerable the girl now was. Her eyes noticed new surroundings. Palpatine had placed the holographic cage on Naboo, in the Palace Theed...the energy beam corridor -- and suddenly Alida saw before her, a vision of a famous lightsaber duel.

There were three Force users moving together along a narrow catwalk of the power station, whirling and slashing in a death duel.

Kaliandra looked around wildly hoping she would find her Master there in the room and not trapped in the holo cage. A blue shimmer suddenly appeared next to the young Jedi.

Palpatine is stared at Kali as he held up Alida's lightsaber and smiled. "Looking for *this*, little Padawan?

"That's my Master's," Kali said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Palpatine tossed the saber to Kaliandra with a malevolent grin. " Defend yourself, little Padawan..."

She reached out her hand and the lightsaber dropped into it. She dropped into a guard position, but didn't activate the 'saber.

"Ah yes....so - it appears that we are *passive*," Palpatine mocked with a sarcastic edge.

Alida found her attention torn in two places at once. In one, Theed - she watched a duel she knew the outcome of, one that happened when she was a Padawan. The other, in the present - her *own* Padawan. "No, Kali!"

The blue shimmer solidfied in the form of Nuria. The old woman reached out around Kali's shoulders, putting her hands on the saber. "You know what to do." she told her.

Kaliadra glanced at the blue shimmering being beside her and then just nodded. "But you haven't met *my* previous Sith apprentice, Kaliandra. Meet -- Turim."

Turim appears before Kali and glares at her. The image likeness of Palpatine's ex-Jedi apprentice loomed over her - his tall, strong figure poised in perfect form. Turim wore a wicked smile as he extended his lightsaber. The blade was an unusual color. Black as the Dark Side. "Care to *play*, Jedi Padawan?" he taunted.

The girl met the man's gaze. "I do not play," the girl said, mildly. "I win."

The Emperor's yellow eyes seemed to glow with anticipation. "To *win*, indeed!" he scoffed. "Well now! Show her how it's done, Turim!"

Alida frowned at the overconfidence in the girl's words. Force be with the child! As if she'd heard Alida's thought, Nuria glanced over toward the holocage and gave her a reassuring smile. Alida gave her a nod and unclenched her fists.

Kali held her position until Turim charged her and then she simply ducked and rolled out of his way. Her moves were impossibly quick as she sprang back to her feet.

Nuria's ghost's image shadowed Kali's movements continuing to hover protectively over her. "This isn't real," the girl said.

"But how can you tell?" Palpatine laughed. He turned toward the pale-faced Alida in her electric trap...."I'm sure it's *very* real to your Master, little Kaliandra."

"None of this is real," she said. "Like before, first it was Almas...and then Yavin. It's not real. It's only real in our minds." Nuria nodded approvingly. The young Jedi stared at the Emperor. "How do I know that you really have my Master and not something that makes me think you have her."

"Kaliandra." Alida looked toward Nuria and then at her Padawan. Could what the girl be saying be true? The sounds of the duel on Naboo were gradually beginning to fade.

Kali was torn between the cage and keeping her attention on the Emperor. Palpatine grinned at the young Padawan. "You'll have to find out for yourself."

Turim faced Kali with his lightsaber...but as he lifted it and a second blade came out. In all her seventeen years, the girl had never seen one..

She was facing a double bladed saber! Swallowing hard, Kaliandra shifted her attention back to him and raised her lightsaber in a guard position again, the glowing blade extended.

Alida focused intently on her Padawan as Nuria continued to "shadow" Kali.

Suddenly, the lights went out. and they were all enveloped in darkness. Turim's black blade was now dangerously invisible against Kali's shining one. Palpatine laughed. He seemed to be aware of everything. Alida strained to see...trying not to cringe every time she heard sabers clashing. Kali suddenly had to rely on sound alone. She still couldn't feel the Force around her. The young Jedi tried to remember all the lessons her Master had drilled her on using her other senses to see.

"See if you can use your senses now *Jedi*!!"

Kali ducked as she heard Turim's blade wizing toward her head and brought her own lightsaber up to meet it. Sparks sprayed off in every direction, illuminated the scene for a moment -- like a holostill snapped in freeze frame.

Turim pivoted, and one of his blades swiped Kali's cheek. Pain blossomed and tears blurred her eyes, but she bit down on her lip to keep from crying out. She swept her leg low and caught him behind the knees, knocking him over backward.

The Emperor stepped into Alida's electric cell..."Are you enjoying this, Master Jedi?"

"Stop this," she demanded, "What is it you want?"

"Now you know what I went through when I had to endure *my* apprentice facing two Jedi..."

"Your apprentice attacked the Jedi," Alida said evenly. "Not the other way around."

Palpatine gave her a nasty look. "They were in the *way*."

"In the way of what? Your rise to power?" She looked away from him and toward the battle at hand.

As Turim and Kali dueled, Nuria slipped back away from the girl, her pale blue glow the only light outside of Alida's saber.

Kaliandra drove her lightsaber into the floor, but Turim had already rolled out of the way. She turned her head around and caught his silhouette against the faint glow of the elderly woman who had helped her before. She drove upward with her blade toward her opponent.

Nuria moved silently around behind the dark man, silhouetting him for Kali, but Turim moved quickly and stood between Nuria and the young girl.

Kaliandra swiped her lightsaber blocking his blows one by one and then vaulting over him, driving her boot heel into the back of his knee.

Palpatine's voice cut through Kali's mind like a knife. "Good...focus on your anger, little Padawan!"

"No, Kaliandra. There is no anger," Alida countered quickly.

Palpatine's lips curled in hatred and he turned toward Alida, silencing her with his power. "How would you like to take a little trip back to Naboo, *Master* Alida?" Suddenly mute, the Jedi narrowed her eyes at him.

Kaliandra hissed in pain as one of Turim's blades grazed her hip. She ground her teeth trying to override the voices from her mind. "Peace over anger," she started to chant to herself. "There is no emotion...there is no passion...there is serenity."

Turim circled Kali, trying to feel her position. She could hear his feet as they skimmed across the floor and she attacked, driving her lightsaber again and again against his blades.

The cage in which Alida had been imprisoned suddenly vanished and she found herself standing within the pitch-black room with her Padawan and her opponent. Still under the Emperor's silence spell, Alida could not call out to Kali. Turim turned toward Alida, as if suddenly programmed to do so; Alida heard the shift and readied herself.

Kaliandra faltered. Her opponent had shifted his attack in another direction, but where?

The Emperor chuckled softly "Which Jedi will make the first strike, Turim? We shall see - we shall see..."

Cautiously, Alida purposely moved away from her Padawan, making more noise than necessary, trying to draw the attacker away from Kali. Nuria's glow seemed diminished in Palpatine's darkness but it was no deterrent to her. Kaliandra swung in the direction of the noise. She knew that stride. "Master?"

Nuria's ghostly figure darted silently across the duel space toward Alida. She stopped before the Jedi and pulled the saber from her belt, holding it out to Alida. Although appearing insubstantial, it suddenly appeared solid in the other woman's hand. Alida accepted the lightsaber silently, with a quick nod and hefts the unfamiliar weapon, waiting. The old Jedi stepped aside, giving Alida room to move.

Kaliandra could hear her opponent breathing. She could smell his sweat. She held herself still, the lightsaber in her hands deactivated, until he moved closer. Then she struck, activating the blade as she did.

Alida wanted to shout 'No!' at Kali. Her Padawan knew better than to make the first strike.

Struck by the blade, Turim's image fell to the floor hard.

The lights went on, revealing Kaliandra standing over the still figure of her opponent.

Alida looked across at Kaliandra and then back at Palpatine. She hurried toward the girl.

"Master!" the girl cried out. "Are you okay?"

The Emperor cast Kali a venomous smile. "You're lucky I had no use for him, young Jedi. Your first kill...how does it feel?"

Alida put her hand on Kali's shoulder, closing her eyes for a brief moment.

The young Padawan's golden eyes grew round and the color drained from her face. "Oh, Force," she whispered. Alida wrapped her arms around Kali. The lightsaber slipped from her grip and clattered onto the floor and the girl melted into her Master's arms, silent sobs shaking the girl's slight frame.

Alida turned, keeping one arm around Kaliandra while facing the Emperor. He might have forced Kali into her first kill, but there was no triumph there. The girl was devastated, not elated.

Kaliandra slowly sank to her knees. "I'm sorry, Master. I thought I had no choice."

Palpatine watched the two of them huddling together. "You Jedi are such a *pitiful* lot," he sneered. "This is a perfect example as to why the Jedi could not survive...they claim to have complete control of their emotions, but they still feel affection - it's a weaker trait."

Alida shook her head. He had no understanding of the power of those emotions!

Nuria watched them for a moment then addressed Palpatine. "They are stronger than you think."

"Now, as for *you* old woman," the Emperor pointed at her with a pale finger. "You are merely a *figment*, and I have decided - you have interfered for the last time!"

"Perhaps...or perhaps not."

"You think I don't control you too? Watch and see," he warned, "And as for my pair of Jedis--"

Alida dropped her hand to the back of the girl's head, tensing. "YOU will discover just what I would have done if you hadn't managed to hide from me!!!"

Alida's grip tightened on the lightsaber in her hand again. Kaliandra cringed against her Master. All at once, they were all inside the electric cage again....together!

The room changed around them. They were still on Coruscant but now in the middle of an arena. Soon they realize that their cage was in the center of the Senate Building. Larger than life--thousands of thousands of Jedi fill the sectionals, some faces Alida and Nuria remembered from another time.

Suddenly a loud sad wail surrounded them. Kaliandra's eyes widened at the myriad of voices assaulting them. She looked up at her Master in shock.

Alida returned the look and then back at the figures surrounding them. 'Oh, Force...' She knew many of them. Her own Master was among those surrounding their cage. She swallowed her anger, and willed herself to be calm.

The entire auditorium dissipated in a blinding flash of light, cries of pain and anguish left behind...and all but the cage remained within the confines of the large auditorium. The Emperor laughed as he approaches it in his old senatorial robes.

The figure of Lord Vader appeared and came toward them in one of the moving senate sectionals. He stared at the cage in the middle and turned to Palpatine. "Master?"

Alida stepped protectively in front of her Padawan.

All eyes moved to Palpatine as he peered down at them from the podium.

"It seems we forgot a few Jedi. Deal with them, Lord Vader."

Kaliandra climbed unsteadily to her feet beside her Master. Alida put her hand out through the bars of the cage, pushing the girl behind her. "Anakin, you don't want to do this."

Vader's helmet turned toward her as he approached the cage. "You do not understand. I *must* obey my Master."

"You were a Jedi once," she said earnestly.

"I was never one of you. And I never *will* be..."

"You *were*." Alida tried to remind him. "Master Kenobi was once proud to call you Padawan."

Palpatine walked toward the cage and turned to Vader. "Shall you extend your hand, or shall I, my friend?"

Alida kept Kali behind her, and exchanged glances with Master Nuria.

Nuria, still serene, stood between the two Jedi and the two Sith. Even as a ghost, protection was her nature.

Vader's black cape swirled around him as he moved closer to the cage. He held out his leather gloved hand as it formed into a fist toward the three captives, their hands reaching toward their throats in pain.

The Emperor gritted his teeth at Alida, Kali and Nuria and lifted his pasty hands toward them. "Let me join you, Lord Vader," he hissed, and soon the cage was enveloped in blue and white lightning...

Kaliandra and Alida dropped to their knees. Kali let out a scream.

The smoky haze that had filled the temple garden covered the scene, leaving only Nuria glowing alone in the garden.

::End VR.::

JEDI NIGHTMARE